ARMENIA TO BOAST ONE OF WORLD’S LONGEST SKY LIFTS
EurasiaNet
July 15 2009
NY
Hard hit by the global financial crisis, Armenia is planning to
spend up to 7 million euros (roughly $9.9 million) to build one of
the world’s longest aerial passenger tramways.
Stretching over 5.7 kilometers, the ropeway will carry tourists to the
9th century monastery complex Tatev, which overlooks a steep gorge in
the southern part of the country. Armenia has contracted Garaventa, a
Swiss manufacturer of ropeway technologies, to implement the project,
the Armenpress news agency reported on July 14. Construction of
the tramway is part of a larger project meant to rehabilitate the
historic Tatev area. The project is led by the Armenian National
Competitiveness Fund.
Fund board member Bekor Papazian told Armenpress that the project
participants expect the number of tourists visiting Tatev to triple
after the ropeway starts to function next year. The Tatev tramway
will be able to transport 25 passengers every 10 minutes, A1plus news
service reported.