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ARMENIAN INTERNSHIPS
The Republic of Armenia or Armenia is a landlocked country in southern Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan in the east and Iran (Persia) and the Naxçıvan exclave of Azerbaijan in the south. Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States and for centuries has been on the crossroads between West and East.
The terrain is mostly mountainous, with fast flowing rivers and few forests. The climate is highland continental: hot summers and cold winters. The land rises to 4,095 m above sea-level at Mount Ararat, and no point is below 400m. Mount Ararat, a well known Armenian symbol, is the highest mountain in the region and used to be part of Armenia up until around 1915 when Turkey took over land from Armenia.
Armenians have their own highly distinctive alphabet and language. Ninety-six percent of the people in the country speak Armenian, while 75% of the population speaks Russian as well. Armenia is totally literate; 99% of the population can read and write. Most adults in Yerevan can communicate in Russian while English is increasing in popularity.
Yerevan, by any comparative measure, is a very safe city for its size (about 1 million people), and safer than most cities in Europe or the USA. Random crimes against individuals such as muggings, robbery, etc. are rare. Nevertheless, it is always prudent not to make yourself a target. Keep welling lit, main streets at night, taking taxis anytime after 10 pm and travelling with friends whenever possible. Avoid displaying large sums of money; be aware of your surroundings and any suspicious individuals. Large markets such as the Vernissage or Hrazdan are attractive to pickpockets because of the hustle and bustle and the crowds. Do not carry purses or backpacks which can be easily opened. Economic hardship has brought with it an influx of beggars and street children, but most are harmless.
