Geography
Armenia
is
located
in
the
Southern
Caucasus.
It
is
the
smallest
of
the
former
Soviet
Republics
yet
was
the
first
to
declare
its
independence
after
the
fall
of
the
Soviet
Republic.
Armenia’s
area
is
30,000
square
feet,
an
area
slightly
larger
than the state of Maryland.
Contemporary Armenia is a fraction
of the size
of
ancient
Armenia.
It
is
landlocked
by
Georgia
on
the
north,
Azerbaijan
on
the
east,
Iran
on
the south,
and Turkey on the west. Much
of Armenia is a rugged plateau
of ridges, narrow valleys,
extinct
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The
republic
contains
numerous
mountain
lakes,
the
largest
of
which
is
Lake
Sevan,
which
holds
more than
90
percent
of
all
standing
water
in
Armenia.
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volcanoes,
and
small
rivers
and
streams.
The
two
geographical
features
that
stand
out
most
about
Armenia
are
the
mountains
and
Lake
Sevan.
The
republic
contains
numerous
mountain
lakes,
the
largest
of
which
is
Lake
Sevan,
which
holds
more
than
90
percent
of
all
standing
water
in
Armenia.
Although Armenia is landlocked, Lake Sevan takes up about 5% of the countries surface
area and is at a very high elevation. The waters are crystal clean, often blue or
turquoise, and always cold. Known as Armenia’s pearl, Lake Sevan serves as the main
reservoir of Armenia’s irrigation system. Armenia’s main rivers include the Araks
River, which flows into the Caspian Sea, and the Hrazdan, which flows from Lake Sevan
into the Araks River in a series of majestic waterfalls. The Araks and Hrazdan Rivers
provide almost all of Armenia’s electric power.
The
average elevation
is between 1,000
and 2,500m, with
the lowest point
being 500 meters.
Armenia’s highest
point is Mount
Aragats, 13, 435
ft. The capital
Yerevan is on the
large, dry Ararat
plain, which is
about 1,500m above
sea level. The
Ararat Mountain
Chain, also known
as Sis and Masis,
is located in what
is now modern Turkey.
It rises 7,000
feet and is visible
from nearly every
area of Armenia.
Historically, Ararat
has been the Armenian
people’s most treasured
landmark.
Despite
being
latitudinally
equivalent
to
more
Mediterranean
countries
such
as
Spain,
Italy
and
Greece
Due
to
its
high
elevation
and
inland
location,
most
of
Armenia
has
a
continental
climate.
The
summers
are
very
hot
and
the
winters
moderately
cold,
especially
on
the
Ararat
plain.
However,
Armenia
also
has
innumerable
microclimates.
There
are
even
palm
trees
in
some
parts
of
Karabakh.
Rainfall
varies
greatly
by
location
and
elevation,
with
the
greatest
precipitation
occurring
on
mountain
slopes.
Due
to
the
mountainous
terrain,
beautiful
waterfalls
and
ravishing
rapids
are
frequent.
Climate,
soil,
and
vegetation
vary
greatly
throughout
Armenia
resulting
in
Armenia
containing
twice
as
many
soil
types
as
European
Russia.
A very
mountainous
terrain
includes
temperate
rain
forests
in
the
north
and
south,
and
arctic
tundra
like
conditions
on
some
of
the
highest
peaks.
If
you
venture
into
Karabakh,
you
will
even
see
palm
trees
in
some
parts.
The
wide variety of
climates in Armenia
accounts for the great
variety of flora and
fauna that can be
seen
at different times
of the year throughout
Armenia. Armenia
contains
twice as many soil
types as European
Russia
and the climate, soil,
and vegetation vary
greatly throughout
the country. Many
of
the world’s bulbs
originate
in the Armenian Highland,
and there is a wide
variety of wild bulbs
in the country.
Armenian
vegetation is typical
of alpine, semi-desert,
and steppe regions
with the extreme southeastern
and northeastern portions
of the country contain
forests of beech and
oak. Large parts
of the country are
relatively
undisturbed and still
have wild grasses,
flowers, trees and
shrubs growing.
The
animal life in Armenia includes
wild boars, jackals, lynxes,
and Syrian bears, mountain
cats, deer among many others.
Additionally, there is a huge
variety of migratory birds
stopping in Armenia, which
is to them a land bridge from
Europe and Asia. One of the
most recognized Armenian birds
is the stork.
Armenia’s
natural
resources are
small
deposits of gold, copper,
molybdenum,
zinc, and
alumina.
The land consists
of 17 percent
arable
land, 3 percent permanent
crops,
24 percent permanent
pastures,
15 percent
forests
and woodland, and
41 percent other
types
of land.
No
state
in the
world
has had
so many
capitals
as
Armenia. Prior
to
Yerevan, 11
cities
assumed the
role of
capital city.
These
cities included
Van,
Armavir, Yervandasasht,
Artashat, Tirgranakert,
Vagarshapat, Dvin,
Bagaran,
Shirakavan,
Kars, and
Ani, Yerevan
is
located on
the large,
dry
Ararat plain
that
is about
1,500m above
sea
level. Yerevan,
29 years
older than
Rome,
is steeped
in
history
with beautiful
examples
of art
and
architecture. Most
of
its buildings
are
covered with
a rosy
stone, “tuf,”
that
is
quarried
in Armenia,
and the
city is
rich
in
monuments. The
most
popular of
Armenia’s
tourist
destinations,
Yerevan
is beautiful
any season
of the
year.
Armenia
is highly urbanized and more
than two-thirds of Armenians
live in cities or towns.
The largest city is its
capital Yerevan. The next
most populous city is Gyumri,
formerly known as Leninankan,
and is about one-tenth the
size of Yerevan.
Yerevan,
Armenia’s
largest
city,
is
home
to
over
a third
of
the
country’s
three
and
one-half
million
citizens.
Once
highly
industrialized,
with
a flourishing
manufacturing
sector,
Yerevan
has
suffered
extreme
economic
hardships
including
a six-year
war,
blockades,
natural
disasters,
and
citizens
exiting
the
country
in
shut
down
great
numbers.
As
a result,
industry
has
disappeared
almost
entirely.
The
repercussions of Yerevan’s
economic hardships are visible
everywhere, but rarely so
poignant as in the capital’s
main
square, surrounded by government
buildings and the National
Museum, where the singing
fountains,
whose waters once flowed with
the sweet sounds of Armenian
music, are now quiet.
Armenia’s
nearly
200
mineral
springs
attract
tourists
to
local
health
resorts
and
spas.
The
water
is
said
to
have
a
natural
healing
effect
and
is
supplied
to
the
locals
straight
from
its
springs.
Especially
popular
areas
for
patients
seeking
to
treat
minor
ailments
are
the
Arzni
and
Dzhermuk
mineral
springs. |
