ERZERUM

ERZEROUM, or ERZEROOM (er’ze-rém), a city of Armenia, formerly the capital of a Turkish vilayet with an area of 27,000 sq. miles, and a pop. of 270,426 (1927). The town is about 6,000 feet above sea level, and forms an important strategical centre. It is irregularly built, its narrow dirty streets, flanked by mean houses, being crowded together in the small space enclosed by its lofty walls. The Moslem element. prevails largely over the Christian, although it is the metropolis of the Armenian Church in union with Rome. In addition to important manufactures, especially in copper and iron, it carries on an extensive trade, and is a chief halting-place for Persian pilgrims on their way to Mecca. The town was captured by the Ru ians in Feb., 1916, and recaptured by ine Turks in March, 1918. Pop. 457.