Jermuk is a gorgeous Armenian resort town known for its mineral waters, which are believed to have healing properties. Each year, hundreds of people seek out this place in the hopes of bettering their health.
A deer, in honor of which a statue was erected, serves as the city’s emblem. Perched on a lofty hill, it offers a magnificent panorama of the landscape below. This is no ordinary symbol; it has a fascinating story behind it.
Long ago, the forests of Jermuk were home to a variety of wild animals, and hunters frequently ventured there in search of game.
As the legend goes, a hunter once shot a deer with a precisely placed arrow, and the animal, drawing on its last reserves of energy, started to flee. Suddenly, the hunter saw the deer leap into a lake full of mineral water, and he followed after.
Just a little while after that, the deer came up from the water unscathed. After his incredible hunt, the hunter went back to his village and spread the word about the Jermuk water’s miraculous healing powers.
The medicinal properties of the Jermuk deer became widely known, and the deer came to represent the region.