Armenia is a small country situated in the Caucasus. It is a mountainous country having an average altitude of 1700m above sea level with its highest point (Mt. Aragats) being at 4090m. Besides having an average high altitude and having lots of mountains, Armenia is also famous for its rocks, canyons and lots of stones. During your visit in Armenia it is impossible not to notice the numerous stones that are scattered everywhere. Thus, it is no wonder why this country is called "Land of Stones". The Armenians even have a very suitable saying for its landscapes, namely "Hayastan, Qarastan", which means "Armenia, land of stones". 

The Legend Behind the Rocky Country

According to an ancient Armenian legend, God was creating the world and after finishing he asked all the folks to choose land for themselves. When all the folks where choosing the best area for themselves, the Armenians were enjoying a party with eating, drinking and dancing. When the Armenians finished their party, they understood that all the lands where divided between all the nations and only a land full of stones was left to live in. So they settled in the "Land of Stones". Why the Armenians were distracted by eating, drinking and dancing is another story (in later posts, we will give you some of the drinking and eating habits of the Armenians). Now let's go deeper into the fact of having a land full of stones.

Country of Stones - A Blessing or a Curse?

Of course the many stones might seem to be an obstacle in many ways. By saying stones, you should also imagine the rocks and mountains of this area. In fact only 15,8% of the lands of Armenia is arable, because of the rocky landscapes of the country. Traveling from the North (borders of Armenia and Georgia) to the South (borders of Armenia and Iran) of the country will take you more than 10-12 hours! Note that Armenia is almost the same size as Belgium where you can cross the country in just several hours. So, is having a land of stones a handicap or not? Having lived for centuries in this area, the Armenians have managed to overcome this 'obstacle' and have learned how to live together with this amazing natural phenomenon! Moreover, the stones carry the souls of the Armenians. With great pride they boast about their mountainous country and claim that they are as steadfast and firm as their stones and mountains. Besides, the owners of the land of stones have managed to build truly the most beautiful things imaginable out of stone.

Treasures of Stone

The modest but yet mystic churches, the numerous cave churches and the unique cross-stones testify that the Armenians master the natural treasures of their country and have made wonders out of them. By visiting the field of cross-stones in Noratus near Lake Sevan, the mysterious cave monastery of Geghard or the high standing churches of Noravank, you will become aware that every piece of stone stands in harmony of the surrounding nature and the people themselves. It is hence also not a wonder that the Armenian Tourism Board has come up with a slogan that describes Armenia at its best - "Armenia - The land of talking stones" - as all the monasteries, churches, stone crosses, mountains and even the tiny stones tell about the history of one of the ancient countries in the world, Armenia!

Visit Armenia, the Land of Talking Stones, with Ravina Tours