Despite the rich historical past, the foundation of today's new town was based only in 1940, when the first resort has been built.
In further years Jermuk has been built and created all the opportunities to have an activ rest, to treat the health and for tourism for both residents and holidaymakers.
In 1967 the city acquires the significance of republican meaning town, and in 1970 all-union sanatorium significance status.
In 1980s the city had about 10,000 inhabitants; with about 2000 beds sanitariums and pensions network with all infrastructure and services for active rest and treatment.
Due to objective reasons the active life of the resort was in large reflux in the beginning of 1990s, which has started to activate in the end of 1990s.
Now there are some plans of enriching and operating the sanatorium and the tourism complex of the city the whole year round.
The city's population is now 7,500 people.
The Administrative Region area is over 5.5 thousand hectares.
The city is linked with Yerevan of two highways from which "Jermuk-Yeraskh-Yerevan" highway is shorter and is about 170 km.
The city is located in 24 km away from "Yerevan-Goris-Stepanakert" highway.
Even there are invented legends about the detection of miracle water.
In ancient times when the main way of earning was hunting, these virgin forests were full of various types of preys.
And behold once experienced hunter shut with arrow to a young deer.
Injured deer began to flee with great efforts, gathering last the forces.
The hunter began to follow it promptly.
Hardly pulling its feet the deer reached the mineral sources of Jermuk, dumped into the water and what a magic! it got out from water fully healthy and recovered and immediately disappeared into the forest.
Experienced hunter astonished by the miracle of ordinary water and after that day the fame of "Jermuk" water disseminated all over the world, and the deer that showed the people the secret of miracle water become the favorite one for people and the symbol of Jermuk.
Arriving Jermuk and not seeing the big waterfall of "Jermuk" means not to be in "Jermuk".
This miracle of the nature which is pouring from over 70 meters height to Arpa Canyon and which looks like scattered hairs they have called "Mermaid's hair" (Djraharsi varser) and have composed the next legend.
From ancient time in the place of today's waterfall on top of the deep abyss there was a Castle of duke whose beautiful daughter was a part of virginal nature.
There came men from different places around the world to ask for princesse's hand, but she has rejected everybody, as her heart has belonged to the young and brave son of shepherd.
Every day after midnight, the young princess has throw the end of a long rope to the canyon from her bedroom's window, with which shepherd's son has climbed to his beloved one.
But the duke soon learned about it, has angered, irritated and has damned his doughter: that if she met the shepherd's son again let she would turn into mermaid and never get out from the water.
But the young lovers have been tempted to meet each other and then once again the beutiful princess to help her loved man for climbing the castle from the height of rock throwed her long and beutiful hairs instead of rope.
However, at the same moment came true the cruel damn of Duke and the Belle became a mermaid and her beautiful hairs, which were flowing into the canyon became a marvelous waterfall, and the people was called it the "mermaid's hairs".
Jermuk is not only the land of various legends but also it is a rich outdoor museum spreaded all over the city and suburb with a lot of historical and cultural monuments and sightseeings, with a lot of deep abysses and high rocks, with caves and hunting places for them who likes adventure tourism (the Arpa-Sevan tunnel, the Kechut reservoir, Gndevank, Vardan's Stone, Gladzor's medieval University, Noravank complex, etc.).
Especially it is very beutiful Jermuk's snowy, mild and sunny winter.
It is important to note that the city took the first place with sunny and bright days among the former Soviet sanitariums.
The existance of good climatic and natural conditions always were attracted the winter resort's lovers to the sanatorium town for winter rest, treatment and for sports.
The City Sanatorium which has got the Grade of republican subordination from 1967 and the Union denomination from 1970 today is suggesting services to the tourists and the campers with over 2000 beds sanatoriums, hotels, pensions, policlinics, cocktail lounges, swimming pools, Sport fields, cinema, restaurants, bars and cafes.
