Armenia Travel Information and Advice | Pyala Travel

Armenia Travel Information | Armenia Country Information

Armenia is a country located in the southern part of the South Caucasus region and has a border on the east with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on the north by Georgia, on the west with Turkey and in the north-east and south-west with Azerbaijan and in Southern Iran. Armenia's population is 3.3 million, the largest city and capital of being the city of Yerevan (1.5 million inhabitants).

The territory of modern Armenia is 29.8 thousand square kilometers, situated in the north-east of the Armenian Highland, known as historical Armenia and which is the historic homeland of the Armenian people, who are considered one of the most ancient nations  in the world. Armenian relief is predominantly mountainous. Nearly 90 percent of the country is at an altitude of 1,000 to 3,000 m above sea level. The highest point of modern Armenia is Mount Aragats - 4090 m. Mount Ararat the most important symbols of Armenia, currently is in the territory of Turkey.

Most of the agriculture activities are in lowland areas that are irrigated by fast-flowing rivers. The largest irrigated areas are the Ararat Valley, Sevan Basin, Aparan, Lori and Shirak plains. Forests cover 12 percent of the territory of the country. The river network of the country is dense, especially in mountainous areas, however, it consists of mainly mountain rivers with no navigation. In Armenia, there are several high mountain lakes, the largest of which is Lake Sevan.  The other big ones are the lakes of Arpi, Kari, Parz, North. Several climatic zones are represented in Armenia. The climate of the Ararat valley can be characterized as extremely continental with hot summers and cool winters.     

Armenia claims to be the first to adopt Christianity as state religion in 301. The majority of believers belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, there are communities of the Armenian Catholic Church. In 405, the Holy Saint Mesrop created the Armenian alphabet. 98 percent of the population are Armenians. The country is also populated by small numbers of other nationalities - Yezids, Russians, Assyrians and others. 

The official language of Armenia is Armenian, people generally speak intermediate level of Russian, adults speaking better than the younger generations.  The urban population accounts for 64 percent of the total population. The country has a unique historical and cultural heritage. According to various estimates, the Armenian Diaspora counts from 5 to 10 million people worldwide, primarily in Russia, the USA and France.

The administrative-territorial unit of Armenia is the region or marz. The country has 11 marzes: Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Yerevan, Kotayk, Lori, Syunik, Tavush, Shirak. Largest cities are Yerevan, Gyumri, Echmiadzin, Vanadzor, Kapan, Ijevan, Hrazdan.

Armenia is a presidential republic, the supreme legislative body is the unicameral National Assembly of Armenia.     

The national flag of Armenia, is a rectangular panel with three equivalent horizontal stripes of red, blue and orange colors. Red symbolizes the blood shed by the Armenian people in their struggle for freedom, blue - the sky of Armenia, orange - the Armenians work aimed at the creation and progress.

Anthem of Armenia is Mer Hayrenik or Our Motherland,  composed by famous 19 century musician Barsegh Kanachyan and lyrics written by Mikael Nalbandian, a famous poet of the same epoch.  Its  emblem Armenia inherited from the First Republic of Armenia  of 1918 - 1920. In the center of the emblem, on the shield, coats of arms of the four dynasties of the Armenian kings: Arshakids, Artashesids, Bagratids and Rubinyans are presented, placed around the image of the Biblical Mount Ararat, with the Noah's ark on the top. Supporters from both sides are the lion and the eagle, which represent the spirit of Armenia, power, stamina and courage. At the bottom of the shield a sword is depicted, symbolizing the struggle of the Armenian people for freedom and independence, as well as pen and spikes, which embody the quench of Armenians for education and peace.