The Republic of Armenia (Republic of Armenia, Республика Армения), referred to as Armenia, the capital Yerevan, is located at the border between Europe and Asia, at the southern foot of the Transcaucasus Mountains, bordering Turkey to the west, Iran to the south, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east. With a total area of 29,700 square kilometers, 90% of the whole territory is above 1,000 meters above sea level, and it has a subtropical alpine climate. The country is divided into 10 states and 1 state-level city. The official language is Armenia, and most of the inhabitants are fluent in Russian. The people are predominantly Christian.
In the 9th and 6th centuries BC, the slave state of Urartu was established on the territory of Armenia. In the 6th and 3rd centuries BC, the Achaemenid and Seleucid dynasties ruled Armenia and established the Greater Armenia State. Since then, Armenia has been divided between Turkey and Iran twice. From 1804 to 1828, two Russo-Iranian wars ended in the defeat of Iran, and Eastern Armenia, formerly occupied by Iran, was incorporated into Tsarist Russia. On May 28, 1918, the First Republic of Armenia was established under the leadership of the Dashnak Chujong Party.
On January 29, 1920, the Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic was established. In March 1922, Asia joined the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic, and on December 30 of the same year, it joined the Soviet Union as a member of the Federation. On December 5, 1936, the Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic became one of its union republics directly under the Soviet Union. On August 23, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of Armenia adopted the Declaration of Independence and changed the name of the country to the "Republic of Armenia". On 21 September 1991, Armenia held a referendum officially declaring independence.
The territory of Armenia is dotted with many churches and monasteries with different histories and styles, which is why it is called the "Land of Churches". These religious buildings are not only an important symbol of Christian culture in Armenia, but also a testimony to the country's rich history.
Armenia was the first country in the world to establish Christianity as the state religion, a historical tradition that has made churches a pivotal part of the country's culture. In addition, the love and preservation of churches by the Armenia people has allowed these religious buildings to be preserved to this day, becoming a unique attraction for tourists from all over the world.
geographical location
Armenia is a landlocked country located at the junction of Europe and Asia, south of the Transcaucasian Mountains, northeast of the Armenia Plateau, bordering Turkey to the west, Iran to the south, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east. The total area is 29,700 square kilometers.
90% of the territory of Armenia is above 1,000 meters above sea level, with an average altitude of 1,800 meters. Its topographical characteristics are: high in the west and northwest, low in the east and southwest, and the highest peak in the whole territory is Mount Alagatz with an altitude of 4090 meters in the northwest. The eastern depression of Armenia contains the largest mountain lake in the country, Lake Sevan, with an area of 1,360 square kilometers. The main river is the Arraks River.
Armenia is located at 38.50°~ 41.18°N, 43.27°~46.37°E, with a subtropical alpine climate. Its climate varies depending on the terrain, gradually evolving from a dry subtropical climate to a cold climate. The average temperature in January is -2~12 °C, the average temperature in July is 24~26 °C, and the average annual precipitation is 200~800 mm.
Armenia is poor in energy resources and relies on imports for oil and gas, but is rich in metallic and non-metallic minerals. The main metal deposits are: copper, molybdenum, iron, lead, zinc, gold, silver, antimony and aluminum, among which there are 7 copper-molybdenum mines, 4 copper mines, 14 associated gold mines, 1 aluminum ore and 2 iron ore mines, with copper-molybdenum ore reserves of 1.95 billion tons. Non-metallic mineral deposits are rich and diverse, mainly including: volcanic rock, perlite, basalt, granite, black granite and obsidian, among which, the proven reserves of perlite are 150 million cubic meters.
national flag
The flag of Armenia is a horizontal rectangle with a ratio of length to width of 2:1. From top to bottom, it consists of three parallel and equal horizontal rectangles of red, blue, and orange. Red symbolizes the blood of martyrs and the victory of the national revolution, blue represents the country's abundant resources, and orange symbolizes light, happiness and hope. This is the flag adopted by the First Republic of Armenia, which was established in 1918. From 1920 to 1991, Armenia was a former Soviet republic, and the flag at that time was a slightly wider blue bar in the middle of the former Soviet flag. In 1991, independence was declared, and the red, blue, and orange tricolor flags were officially restored as national flags.
national emblem
The coat of arms of Armenia was inaugurated on 19 April 1992 and is modelled on the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. It is a coat of arms, supported by an eagle and a lion. The small shield in the middle depicts Noah's Ark resting on the top of Mount Arala. Represents the natural beauty of Armenia. The rest of the shield is divided into four quadrants, surrounded by four groups of motifs representing the four kingdoms in history: in the lower left corner, the two eagles looking back at each other, symbolizing the Artashes dynasty; In the upper left corner is a lion carrying a cross, symbolizing the Bagratid dynasty; In the upper right corner is a double-headed eagle, symbolizing the Asasacean dynasty; In the lower right corner is a lion holding a cross in its paws, symbolizing the Ruben dynasty. The four quadrants symbolize the country's long history. Beneath the shield was a chain severed by a sword, crossed with green branches and arrowheads, as well as ears of wheat, feathers, and ribbons.
Administrative divisions
亚美尼亚全国划分为10个州和1个州级市。 ：希拉克州（Shirak，Ширак）、洛里州（Lori，Лори）、塔武什州（Tavush，Тавуш）、阿拉加措特恩州（Aragatsotn，Арагацотн）、科泰克州（Kotayk，Котайк）、格加尔库尼克州（Gegharkuni，Гегаркуник）、阿尔马维尔州（Armavir，Армавир）、阿拉拉特州（Ararat，Арарат）、瓦约茨·佐尔州（Vayots Dzor，Ваёц Дзор）、休尼克州（Syunik，Сюник）、埃里温市（Yerevan，Ереван）。
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and the political, economic and cultural center of the country. It has an area of 265 square kilometers and a population of 1,104,000 (as of January 1, 2024). More than a third of Armenia's population is concentrated here. Yerevan is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with an altitude of 900 to 1,200 meters above sea level, and has a continental alpine climate. Yerevan is one of the important ancient cities of Armenia. In 782 BC, the king of Urartus, Argystis, founded the fortress of Eribni here. By the 15th century, Eribuni had developed into the administrative and commercial center of Eastern Armenia. In 1828, after the annexation of Eastern Armenia to Tsarist Russia, Erebny was renamed Yerevan.
As of January 1, 2022, the total population of Armenia is 2.961 million. Armenia is a multi-ethnic country, with ethnic Armenia accounting for about 96 per cent of the population, while other ethnic minorities are: Yejid, about 40,000, Russian, about 15,000, Assyrian, about 8,000, and Greece, about 6,000.
tourism
Armenia is the oldest traditional Christian country and has a wealth of tourist resources, the most important of which is the variety of ancient architecture. The Church of Etchmiazin, founded in 303, is one of the earliest Christian churches in the world, and the Monastery of Gegard is also a must-see for tourists, as well as attractions such as Lake Sevan and Mount Alagati, the god Garni.
1、塞凡湖(Lake Sevan)
Located about 60 km east of Yerevan, it is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. The water of the lake is crystal clear, and the shores of the lake are surrounded by beautiful nature and colorful houses. There is also a black monastery around the lake, which adds a mysterious and sacred atmosphere to the area. Visitors can swim, paddle or take a boat tour while enjoying the stunning views of the snow-capped mountains in the distance.
2、格加尔德修道院（Geghard Monastery）
Located in a gorge 40 km southeast of Yerevan. This monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Armenia and has been listed as a World Heritage Site. Known for its unique cave churches and rich historical sites, it is an important place to learn about the religious culture and history of Armenia.
3、埃奇米阿津教堂（Echmiadzin Church）
Located at the foot of Mount Ararat in the city of Etchmiazin. It is believed to be the oldest Christian cathedral in the world, having been built around 300 AD. The church contains precious relics, such as the fragment of Noah's Ark and the spear that Jesus was stabbed in the side when he was crucified, which imbues the church with religious mystery and historical weight.
4、加尼神庙（Garni Temple）
Located in the village of Ghani, 28 km east of Yerevan. It is the only Greece temple building in Armenia and the easternmost complete Greece temple in the world. The temple was built in the 1st century AD and although damaged in an earthquake, it has been restored in archaeological form in its magnificent Greece style.
5、兹瓦尔特诺茨古迹(Zvartnots Ancient Ruins)
It's the beauty of a thousand-year-old ruin, and the ticket is good value. Standing among the ruins, you can feel the breath of history, and every ruin tells the glory of the past. When the weather is nice, you can also overlook Mount Alara in the distance.
In addition, there are many other attractions worth visiting in Armenia, such as the Armenia Genocide Museum, Garni Valley, etc. Together, these attractions form a colorful tourist picture of Armenia, allowing visitors to experience the unique charm of the country while exploring.
delicacies
Armenia has a rich and colorful food culture and is known for its unique ingredients, cooking methods, and tastes. Here are some of Armenia's famous cuisines:
1、烤南瓜饭（Ghapama）：
A popular pumpkin dish in Armenia families, pumpkin is de-pulped, filled with cooked rice and dried fruits (such as apples, apricots, dates, plums and raisins) and nuts, and roasted and eaten.
2、烤羔羊(Khorovats):
Roasted lamb is one of the representatives of traditional Armenia barbecue, marinated using fresh local lamb and various spices, and cooked on an open baking sheet until golden brown, a signature dish for festivals and family dinners.
3. Lahmacun:
Diwo noodles are a very famous pizza-like pancake in Armenia, made with fillings such as beef, lamb, chicken or vegetables, made in the oven and eaten on its own or with salads.
4、亚美尼亚羊头肉汤（Khash）：
It is a hot soup made with lamb's head meat, which can be seasoned with salt, garlic, lemon juice or vinegar, and is a unique flavor of Armenia.
5、Lavash烤饼:
A must-eat dish for Armenia's three meals a day, this cake is thin and crispy, similar to the baked cakes in the Chinese mainland or naan in Xinjiang, and tastes crispy and fragrant.
Armenia cuisine is not only a treat for the taste buds, but also a carrier of culture and the beginning of a story. Whether it is traditional cuisine or modern innovation, it reflects the love and pursuit of the Armenia people for food. If you have the opportunity to taste Armenia cuisine, you will be impressed.