Short facts about the geography of Armenia

Location:

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:

Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:

total:  29,800 sq km land:  28,400 sq km water:  1,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

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)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain:

Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Debed River 400 m highest point:  Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

Land use:

arable land:  17% permanent crops:  3% permanent pastures:  24% forests and woodland:  15% other:  41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

2,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

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

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

landlocked

Source: World Factbook