Geography & environment — Armenia
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Armenia: Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
40 00 N, 45 00 E
- Total Area
11,484 Square Miles 29,743 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
10,889 Square Miles 28,203 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
595 Square Miles 1,540 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
779 Miles 1,254 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Physical geography
- Terrain
- Armenian Highland with mountains
- little forest land
- fast flowing rivers
- good soil in Aras River valley
- Highest Point
4,090 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
- Lowest Point
400 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
Debed River 400 m
- Natural Resources
Small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
- Irrigated Land
1,056 Square Miles 2,735 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
- The climate is highland continental. It is dry, with an average of 550mm (21.6 inches) in annual rainfall. In the Ararat Valley, where Yerevan is located, there is far less rain
- with an average range of from 200mm to 250mm (7.9 to 10 inches). Seasonal extremes are pronounced in the Ararat Valley. Temperatures can approach the record summer high of 42°C (107.6°F) or plunge towards the record winter low of -30°C (-22°F). Mean temperatures are more temperate, however. July readings give an average high range of from 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F). The January low range averages from -5°C (23°F) to -7°C (19°F). Autumns are long and golden
- Armenia enjoys around 2700 hours of sunshine each year. Drought is a perennial problem.
- Terrain
- Armenian Highland with mountains
- little forest land
- fast flowing rivers
- good soil in Aras River valley
- Location
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan
- Total Area
11,484 Square Miles 29,743 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT
the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood
pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers
the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), as 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants