The small town of Jermuk is the most famous balneological resort in Armenia. It is located on a high plateau, at an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level. The Varnis Ridge rises above it from the north, and the Zangezur Ridge rises from the south. This makes the climate of Jermuk comfortable even with the hottest summer months.
Springs of mineral water in Jermuk were discovered in the 10th century. Local princes built several baths near the springs. However, in the following centuries, due to internecine wars and nomadic raids, mineral springs in the mountains were forgotten.
In 1827, Armenia became part of the Russian Empire and peace was established in the region. In the 1830s, the sources of Jermuk were investigated and described by the Russian scientist G.Abikh. He noted that the water from the springs has medicinal properties and can be used to treat various diseases, such as diseases of the digestive system, liver, kidneys, as well as skin diseases.
The balneological resort near the mineral springs of Jermuk began to form only in the 20th century. In 1920, the first sanatorium was built on the shore of Lake Seven Springs, and in the 1930s the construction of new sanatoriums and hotels began. During the WWII, the resort was closed, but after its end it resumed work.
The mineral springs of Jermuk vary in their composition and temperature, ranging from cold springs with a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius to hot springs with a temperature of up to 60 degrees. Water from the springs is used for bathing, drinking and inhalation.
Sights of Jurmuk
The town of Jermuk is divided into two parts by a deep gorge of the Arpa River. In some places, the height of the steep walls of the gorge reaches 100 meters. All the main attractions of Jermuk are located on the right side of the Arpa River gorge. There are also mineral springs there.
The Jermuk Drinking Gallery was built on the shore of Seven Springs Lake in 1956. The monumental building of the Jermuk Drinking Gallery was built in 1956 by Gevorg Tamayan. He was the son of the famous Armenian architect Alexander Tamayan, who developed the general plan of Yerevan in 1924. The gallery is served 5 types of mineral water with different temperatures from 30 to 53 degrees. Pump wells are made in the form of ancient Greek amphorae.
The famous Sanatoriums of Jermuk are also located on the shore of the lake. In 1936, the most luxurious sanatorium “Jermuk” was built, which is now reconstructed and is called Hyatt Grand Resort. Nearby is the building of the Armenia Hotel, which has preserved its appearance in the style of the Stalinist Empire.
There is a path for walking along the bottom of the gorge. Here you can see one of the highest waterfalls in Armenia. It is called Jermuk Waterfall, although it is more often called Mermaid Hair. The height of the Jermuk waterfall reaches 68 meters. The streams of this river are evenly distributed along the basalt slope of the gorge into hundreds of jets. They look especially beautiful in spring after the snow melts in the mountains. In summer and autumn, the Jermuk waterfall is not very full-flowing.
A very famous attraction of the resort is the Jermuk Geyser. However, it is located far away in the mountains on the bank of a small river. Locals offer excursions to the geyser on off-road vehicles. Trekking fans can reach it on foot along a mountain trail. The length of the trail from the Jermuk Drinking Gallery to the Geyser is about 5 kilometers.
The Jurmuk geyser is a natural bath in the shape of a heart. There can be 2-3 people in it at the same time. The Jermuk geyser and the rocky soil around are red, since the mineral water has a high concentration of iron. The water temperature in the geyser does not fall below 30 degrees even in winter. You can sit comfortably in it, like in a home bath. Every 7-10 minutes, gas collects at the bottom of the Jermuk geyser and the water "boils" for a few seconds, turning into a natural massage bath, such as a Jacuzzi.
