Armenia
40 00 N, 45 00 E
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s 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 in spite of its location in a seismically active zone
Continental, mountain climate (over 90 per cent of the territory of the republic is over 900m/2286ft above sea level). During the summer, days can be hot and dry with temperatures falling sharply at night. Winters are extremely cold with heavy snow. May to June and September to October are good times to visit the country, as the weather is warm but mild.
time difference: UTC+4
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
