The Republic of Armenia is one of the world's oldest centers of civilization. Yerevan, the capital, is also one of the world's oldest cities. Geography - A monastery lies in the mountains surrounding the Ararat Plain near Yerevan, Armenia.
Armenia is located in Transcaucasia, the area in Asia south of the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It is bordered by the countries of Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. Armenia covers an area of 11,484 square miles (29,743 square kilometers). It is a mountainous country, with an average elevation of about 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level. The highest peak is Mount Aragats, an extinct volcano that is 13,418 feet (4,090 meters) high. Lake Sevan is located in the east-central part of the country. The Ararat Plain lies in the southwest. The area is prone to earthquakes. Armenia has a dry climate that changes greatly with the elevation. Summers are generally hot. Winters are generally not very cold, except in the mountains and particularly on the windy plateaus. Autumn—long, mild, and sunny—is the most pleasant season. Plants and animalsPlants that tolerate dry conditions, such as juniper, sloe (fruit of the spiny plum), dog rose, and honeysuckle, grow in the lower areas of Armenia. Thorny bushes cover the mountain slopes. High meadows provide good summer pasture for livestock. There are beech forests in the northeast and oak forests in the southeast. The wildlife varies a great deal, depending on the vegetation. Among the animals found in Armenia are the wild boar, wildcat, jackal, Syrian bear, lynx, bezoar ibex (a kind of wild goat), and mountain sheep. People and cultureMore than 90 percent of the people are ethnic Armenians. The remainder are primarily Azerbaijanis, with small numbers of Kurds and other groups. Armenian is the official language. A majority of the people are Christians. Historically the Armenian church has been independent of both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Armenian written literature originated in the 5th century AD. The love songs of the 18th-century poet Sayat-Nova remain popular. The works of the modern Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian are known throughout the world. The paintings of the Armenian-born artist Arshile Gorky are also well known. Carpet weaving and other traditional arts continue to flourish in Armenia. Cultural institutions include opera and ballet companies, theaters, and symphony orchestras. EconomyDespite the growth of cities and industries, agriculture is important to Armenia's economy. Figs, pomegranates, peaches, and grapes are grown in the plains and foothills. Potatoes, vegetables, cotton, sugar beets, tobacco, and grains also are cultivated. The country has a variety of industries. Armenia produces chemicals, machinery, precision instruments, textiles, clothing, leather footwear, wines, and canned goods. Mountain streams are the source of hydroelectric power, a major factor in the republic's industrialization. Armenia has a dense network of roads and railways even though transportation is sometimes difficult because of the mountains. HistoryArmenian civilization began as early as the 6th century BC. It reached its greatest size and influence in the 1st century BC. It was conquered by Rome in 30 BC, which marked the beginning of Western influence. From the 4th to the 19th century Armenia was conquered and ruled by, among others, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Turks, and Russians. In 1895 some 300,000 Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman Turks, who saw the Armenians as a threat to their regime. In 1915, at the beginning of World War I, the Turks massacred another 600,000 Armenians. After the war Armenia enjoyed a brief period of independence. In 1920, however, the Soviet Union invaded Armenia and forced it to accept a Communist government. Two years later the Soviets formed the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, which included Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three became separate republics within the Soviet Union in 1936. On September 23, 1991, Armenia declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Even after independence, however, Armenia still relied on economic and military help from Russia. Through the 1990s Armenia fought with neighboring Azerbaijan over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of Azerbaijan with a largely Armenian population. Population (2001 estimate), 3,807,000. |