Geography of Armenia
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Armenia_map.png
Map of Armenia
Location: Armenia is a southwestern Asian country, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 29,800 km²
land: 28,400 km²
water: 1,400 km²
Area comparative
- Australia comparative: about one third the size of Tasmania
- Canada comparative: half the size of Nova Scotia
- United Kingdom comparative: slightly larger than Wales
- United States comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
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.
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
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
Armenian_terrain.jpg
<p>Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Debed River 400 m
highest point:
Mount Aragats 4,095 m
<p>Natural resources:
small deposits of 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, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
<p>Geography - note:
landlocked
Reference
Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.