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Armenia (country), republic in the Transcaucasia region of western Asia, bordered by Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Turkey to the west and south, and Iran to the south. The Azerbaijani enclave of Naxçıvan also forms part of its southern boundary. Formerly a republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Armenia is an extremely mountainous country with a limited amount of arable land. Population is concentrated in river valleys, especially along the River Hrazdan, where Yerevan, the capital and largest city, is located.
Armenia occupies about 29,800 sq km (11,500 sq mi) of the north-eastern portion of the Armenian Highland, an extensive upland area that extends as far south as Lake Van in Turkey. Armenia is characterized by high elevations and is extremely mountainous. Its average elevation is about 1,800 m (5,900 ft). Mount Aragats is the highest point in the republic, with an elevation of 4,090 m (about 13,420 ft). Mountain ranges in the republic include the P’ambaki, Geghama, Vardenis, and Zangezur branches of the Lesser Caucasus (Malyy Kavkaz) mountain system.
Armenia is covered by a dense network of small rivers and streams that are part of the Aras-Kura river basin. Due to the mountainous terrain, waterfalls and rapids are frequent. The republic contains numerous mountain lakes, the largest being Lake Sevan, which holds more than 90 per cent of all standing water in Armenia.
Armenia’s climate is characteristically continental, with wide temperature variations. Yerevan has an average January temperature of -3° C (26.6° F), and warm summers, with average August temperatures of 25° C (77° F). The Armenian plateaux have a moderating effect on temperatures. Rainfall varies greatly by location and elevation, with the greatest precipitation occurring on mountain slopes. The most arid region of the country is found along the River Aras, where average annual precipitation is less than 300 mm (12 in) per year.
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