DRAKHT

This botanical "paradise" (drakht in Armenian) located in Avan, on the outskirts of Yerevan, suffered greatly from the energy crisis of 1992-1996, which nearly wiped out its collection of 1,200 precious tropical and subtropical species, making it one of the most visited gardens in the former USSR. For lack of heating, the inhabitants had then helped themselves in the garden. It is gradually regaining its original colours and lushness, and continues to attract many visitors who find it a haven of coolness during the torrid summer days.