Geography of Armenia
Location:
Armenia is a southwestern Asian country, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
<p>Map references:
Commonwealth of Independent States
<p>Area:
total:
29,800 km²
land:
28,400 km²
water:
1,400 km²
Area comparative
Historical Armenia is a region much larger than the modern country, including much of what is now eastern Turkey. In fact, the early Armenian capital of
Ani now lies within Turkey.
<p>
Land boundaries:
total:
1,254 km
border countries:
Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km,
Georgia 164 km,
Iran 35 km,
Turkey 268 km
<p>
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
<p>
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
<p>
Climate:
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
<p>
Terrain:
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
<p>
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Debed River 400 m
highest point:
gold,
copper,
molybdenum,
zinc,
alumina
<p>
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
3%
permanent pastures:
24%
forests and woodland:
15%
other:
41% (1993 est.)
<p>
Irrigated land:
2,870 km² (1993 est.)
<p>
Natural hazards:
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
<p>
Environment - current issues:
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
<p>
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Air Pollution,
Biodiversity,
Climate Change,
Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands,
signed, but not ratified:
CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.
