About

Yerevan is the capital of Armenia. It became the capital in 1918, making it the 13th capital in Armenian history. With a population of approximately 1.1 million, nearly one-third of Armenia's population resides here. It is located at a high altitude, averaging 1,000m above sea level. If Armenia is considered a European country, it is the second highest capital city in Europe. The climate is a continental steppe climate. In terms of temperature, the annual range is more extreme than Seoul; summers are very hot with average highs reaching 34-35°C, and winters are quite cold with average lows around -5°C. However, annual precipitation is dry at about 318mm, and unlike Seoul, it follows a precipitation pattern closer to a Mediterranean climate, so summers feel relatively cool and rain or snow falls frequently in winter. Recently, due to global warming, the frequency of snowfall in winter has reportedly decreased sharply. On clear days, Mount Ararat, the sacred mountain of the Armenian people, is visible. However, this mountain is currently part of Turkish territory, which remains a point of deep regret for Armenians who consider it a holy site. In fact, as seen in photos, the distance to Yerevan is so close that the Turkish military could turn Yerevan into a sea of fire just by firing artillery shells. Consequently, while Armenia harbors deep resentment toward Türkiye, it cannot act recklessly. During the war with Azerbaijan, they feared the Turkish military—a powerful ally of Azerbaijan—and maintained close ties with Russia, leading to the stationing of Russian Federation forces. However, due to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's pro-Western policies, they withdrew on August 1, 2024. Urban transportation includes buses, trolleybuses, and a subway. Trams used to operate in the past but were discontinued in 2003. It is home to Yerevan State University, the largest university in Armenia. It hosted the 2018 and 2023 JGP Armenia Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix series.