| Show Worlds World's Oldest City Is Rocked Founded by b Y Noah Scene of Violent Earthquakes Washington Trans Trans- Caucasian city recently shaken by earthquakes does not sound familiar but may be he it should Nearby Is Mount Ararat Arara where Noah Nonh Is reputed to have grounded the Ark Tradition has It that the prophet founded the the name meaning he be descended here here as as soon as the waters receded Citizens of therefore claim that theirs is the oldest city In the world In the present-day present world evan Is the somewhat drab dusty little little little lit lit- tle sun baked capital of ot a tiny self self- governing Soviet republic of the same name strung along the Persian border border border bor bor- der near the common corner of Soviet So Soviet viet whet Russia Persia and Turkey says saysa a bulletin from the National Geographic Geographic Geographic Geo Geo- graphic society I A A Part of Azerbaijan Jan The republic of ot is geographically the southernmost of or Soviet republics west of the Caspian sea sen Governmentally It Is at nt the bottom bottom bottom bot bot- tom of oC a kind of house that Ivan built Almost surrounded by the Soviet Soviet SovIet So So- viet republic of Armenia it Is nevertheless nevertheless never never- a part of the Azerbaijan S. S S. S B R. R which in turn is a unit of ot the Trans-Caucasian Trans Socialist Federation of Republics which as a united entity forms part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Socialist So So- Republics nevertheless nevertheless never never- bears the proud title of ot autonomous autos auton Although the main occupations of the and Armenian peasants peasants peas pens ants of the republic are farming and cattle breeding Is best known throughout the Soviet world as asa asa asa a producer of ot natural salt Twelve T miles mlles from the capital are the rich Lenin salt mines producing a n grade of ot rock salt noted for Its purity The salt snIt Is brought to the city of evan by motor truck and shipped by railroad north into other Russian states and south into Persia is one of or the newer political divisions of the Soviet Union Along with the rest of Trans Trans Trans-Caucasia Caucasia It seceded from Russia and became part of of- three entirely independent republics republics re re- re- re publics In 1917 Constant strife strIte and armed conflict followed until April 1920 1020 when conquering Soviet forces proclaimed Azerbaijan a part of the Soviet Union The other parts of ot Trans Trans Trans-Caucasia Caucasia soon followed Nak Nak- was almost destroyed during fighting between the Armenians and the in 1918 1318 and 1920 Twin Peaks of Mount Ararat Today Is a cit city of about 1000 built along the rocky slopes of or the River Antis Aras Stone houses with wide roofs climb from the river to the th foot of covered brush-covered hills lulls inthe in inthe inthe the background Along the sky line rise the tho noble twin peaks of Mount Ararat the taller feet high Noahs grave near city limits is shown to visitors and It stands in high veneration both with the Armenians and neither of or whom seem to be aware that a similarly honored burial place also exists In the Holy noly Land where It is re regarded as a holy spot by Moslems The ground which trembled to earthquake shocks in has known the beat of hosts of marching men through the ages The mighty armies of ot Cyrus Darius Xerxes Alexander Alexander Alexander Al Al- the Great and Hannibal followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed the banks of the River Aras on their campaigns of conquest and aDd sub sub- This highroad Into Persia has hns been the scene of untold slaughter ter and miser misery and more than forty great grent battles have been fought in inthe Inthe inthe the vicinity of by forces seeking to control It |
