Location Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates 40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references Asia

Area
total: 29,800 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
land: 28,400 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 Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

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

Land use
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 80% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 2,870 sq km (1998 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 and disagreements with Turkey, 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 in spite of its location in a seismically-active zone

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 in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

NOTE: The information regarding Armenia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Armenia Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Armenia Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.