Armenia, Soviet Republic of

ARMENA, REPUBBLICA SOVIETICA. – The smallest (29,900 sq km) of the sixteen federated Republics constituting the U.S.S.R., among which it was admitted in 1936, after having been (since 1922) a member of the Transcaucasian Federation. The Armenian Republic (A.S.S.R.), although its territory contains no smaller dependent units, encloses within its borders the autonomous Republic of Nakicevan, connected with Azerbaijan (v.). On the other hand, although the Armenian Republic also embraces (to the E) areas not inhabited by Armenians, it does not, conversely, include all the Armenians who fall within the Caucasian region belonging to the U.S.S.R. Indeed, a short distance from its borders, the small autonomous Territory (Autonomus Oblast) of Nagorno Karabakh (or Mountainous K.), whose population consists overwhelmingly of Armenians, remains entirely included in the Republic of Azerbaijan, upon which it also administratively depends.

The Armenian Soviet Republic corresponds, in substance, to the left (northern) side of the basin of the Aras, on the slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, and, despite its modest extent, displays considerable variety in landscape and climatic conditions. It is a mountainous, predominantly volcanic region, in which broad and monotonous plateaus (in places exceeding 2,000 m.), separated and dominated by lofty snow-covered peaks (Alagöz, 4,045 m.), alternate with depressed areas, where the population generally tends to be concentrated. The climate is typically continental, with markedly harsh characteristics, due both to aridity (200–700 mm. of annual precipitation) and to the considerable average altitude; consequently, steppe vegetation (with feather grass) predominates widely in the natural vegetation, together with grassland in the summit areas, while forests are reduced to small patches.

The economy of the A. S. S. R. is still based on agriculture, which the Soviet regime has sought to extend through artificial irrigation (using the waters of Lake Sevanga, capable of bringing 130,000 ha. of good land into cultivation) and to strengthen through specialized crops (cotton, fruit, and vines). Livestock raising has also made progress (the dairy industry), but what best characterizes the country’s modern development is above all the strong impetus given to its industrialization (foundries, iron and steel, chemical, textile, and food industries), encouraged by the use of hydroelectric power and by the exploitation of local mineral resources (copper), which until a few years ago were also scarcely known.

The population, consisting of 85% Armenians, 10% Turco-Tatars, and 2.4% Russians, increased from 880,000 to 1.3 million inhabitants between 1926 and 1939; during the same period, the urban population more than doubled (its proportion rose from 19 to 29%).

The two largest population centers are the capital Erivan, formerly a thriving agricultural market in the heart of a fertile basin irrigated by the waters of the Zanga (at approximately 1,000 m. altitude), and now bustling with industries (its population increased from 65,000 to 200,000 inhabitants between 1926 and 1939), and Leninakan (formerly Alexandropol), a troop station (1,450 m. above sea level) on the Tiflis–Qars military road, which has now also become a considerable manufacturing center (textiles and food products).

Despite its modest demographic and economic importance, the Armenian Republic is of particular geopolitical interest within the framework of the U. R. S. S., given its position on the frontier of two states (Turkey and Persia) whose populations include Armenian ethnic minorities.