Armenia is located in southwest Asia, occupies an area between the rivers Kura and Araks in north-eastern part of the Armenian plateau between the Caucasus and the Near East.

The country is located between 38 ° 50'-41 ° 18 'north latitude and 43 ° 27'-46 ° 37' east longitude.

Area: 29,743 sq. km.

Armenia - an ancient country, the world's first Christian state, and one of the earliest countries on earth in general - already in the IX-VI centuries. BC. e. the territory of Armenia there was a powerful state of Urartu. Since then, all ages, swept over this ancient land, have left their traces on it. Therefore, the number of monuments of history and culture of this country can be considered one of the most interesting in the Old World. The main attractions are in the vicinity of Yerevan - one of the oldest cities in the world, as well as scattered throughout the country, often even in the "dark corner" can be seen a monument worthy of considered the province of all mankind.

Yerevan is located in the middle reaches of the river Razdan, at altitudes from 850 to 1300 meters in the heart of Ararat valley. Ancient Erebuni mentioned in chronicles as early as in VIII. BC. e. and then, for many centuries, it is a major center of Eastern Armenia, and one of the key trading centers in Transcaucasia. After the collapse of the USSR Yerevan became the capital of independent Armenia. Center city is the Republic Square (the one located museum complex, the Foreign Ministry and several other structures) and Mashtots Avenue, which runs from the Matenadaran to urban markets. The radial layout of the center makes it easy to navigate in this small, crowded attractions area bounded by a ring of boulevards. In the center of interest to many parks (especially Square Opera Conservatory), Yerevan fortress (XVI cent.), The famous Institute-repository of ancient Armenian manuscripts - Matenadaran (more than 16 thousand manuscripts VX cc.) With the monument in front of Mesrop Mashtots, memorial Sardarapat (1968), memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Museum of Genocide (1995), a memorial monument to the heroes of the Karabakh war - Yerablur, as well as many colorful buildings, the facades of many of them are faced with truly Armenian material - volcanic tufa. Original architecture, is literally saturated with national motives, different hotel building of "Armenia" and former House of Unions, "boulevard of fountains, between the streets and Shaumyan Nalbandian, the building of the Yerevan Brandy Factory, an unusual triangular house players, the ensemble of the Academy of Sciences Marshal Bagramian Avenue, Opera and Ballet Great Philharmonic Hall, the House chamber music and other structures created by the Armenian architects. Deserved fame enjoyed SCC original architecture, Razdan stadium in the valley of the same name of the river, summer water park, botanical garden and zoo, as well as the picturesque district of restaurants and kebab - street Proshian.

In the city a great number of churches - St. Katoghike (XV cent.) St Sarkis (1835-1842 gg.), St. Hovhannes-Mkrtich (1710), St. Akop (XVII century.), St. Astvatsatsin ( XVII century.), St. Gevorg (XVI-XVII vv.), St. Zoravor (1693, one of the oldest churches of Yerevan), huge Yerevan Cathedral (built to commemorate the 1700 anniversary of the adoption of Christianity), mosque (XVIII century .), the ruins of the church of St. Grigor Lusavorchi St. Pogos and Petros, the ruins of the temple Abana (VI cent.) and the chapels of St. Hovhannes and St. Astvatsatsin nearby, as well as many other places of worship. But the number of museum exhibitions Yerevan able to compete with any capital of the world. There are a vast museum complex on the Republic Square (combines Art Gallery of Armenia, the Historical Museum, the Museum of Literature and Art, the Museum of the Revolution and the Small Philharmonic Hall), Yerevan History Museum, Museum Yervant Kochar, Museum of Russian Art, the Museum of Ethnography Museum House Aram Khachaturian, house-museum Avetik Isahakian, house-museum Martiros Saryan (opened in 1967), Museum Tumanyan (1953), Museum of Modern Art (1972), Museum of Folk Art (1978), Exhibition Hall of Artists Union, and of course - the unique Matenadaran them. After Mashtots (1957).

In the vicinity of the capital can detect a huge number of monuments of history and culture. Paramount among them is undoubtedly a great Echmiadzin - the center of the Armenian Gregorian Church, "the heart of Armenia and the residence of the Catholicos, known from the II century. BC. e. Here, in the center of the ancient city Vagarshapat known from the II century. Mr. e. and served as the capital of Armenia for many centuries, are located at the Echmiadzin Cathedral (301-483 gg. n. e.) majestic temples S. Ripsime (618), S. Gayane (630) and S. Shoghakat (1694) , Theological Academy of St. Echmiadzin, the residence of the Catholicos, the Synod of the Armenian church, a library (about 30 thousand rare volumes) and a unique book depository, cells and many ancient khachkars (traditional Armenian crosses a particular form), as well as the National History Museum and Art Museum. Komitas. Near the memorial is located Echmiadzin Musaler on the participants heroic defense Musadaga 1915 E 5 km. Echmiadzin are unique from the ruins of the temple Zvartnots (St. Grigor, 643-652 gg. n. e.), which was destroyed by an earthquake in X.

Of no less interest is the Monastery Kecharis with churches Illuminator (1033), S. Nshan (XI cent.) Katoghike (XIII cent.) And Resurrection (1220), the former in XII-XIII centuries. the spiritual center of Armenia. 15 km. to the east of Yerevan is impregnable fortress of Garni, the former with the III century. BC. e. to IV in. Mr. e. summer residence of Armenian kings (in our days there are intensive archaeological research). Here is, perhaps, the most famous monument of the ancient period - the temple of the sun god Mithra (I in.). 7 km. north-east of Harney is the famous rock monastery Gehard ( "spear"), preserved buildings that date back to XII-XIII centuries. The rich decoration of churches and cells, artfully decorated with ornaments and bas-reliefs, tombs of members of aristocratic families and other masterpieces of underground architecture, brought Gehardu deserved fame as one of the most significant monuments of the history of mankind.

30 km. north-west of the capital city is Ashtarak, a church Karmravor (VII cent.). And nearby, on the southern slope of Mount Aragats, stands the fortress Amberd (X-XIII cc.), The former tribal ownership of the princes Pahlavuni and one of the few remaining castles of the country. Interesting churches Karmravor, Tsiranavor, of St. Marina (1281) and of St. Sarkis, S. Saint Mesrob in Oshakan (lie in the power of the creator of the national alphabet after Mashtots and Prince Vahan Amatuni) and Khor Virap (one of the shrines of the Armenian Church), and Ovanavank Saghmosavank (V-XIII cc.). Marvelous good and he Aragats extinct volcano - the highest point of the Caucasus.

On the left bank of the Arax is the first capital of Armenia and the oldest city in the country - Armavir, founded as a fortress in VIII century. BC. e. At confluence of the Arax River Metsamor is the second capital of the country - Artashat, "Armenian Carthage, founded in the II. BC. e. Nearby is the medieval capital of the country - Dvin, metropolitan performing a function with the IV to XIII century. Almost to the ground destroyed by conquerors and the merciless time, these ancient cities are gradually opening up the world thanks to the efforts of archaeologists - you can see the excavation of citadels, palaces, mansions and detached houses, saw the birth of another civilization.

Gyumri - Shirak Ashkharh capital and one of the oldest cities of Armenia (known from the II century BC. BC. E.), Located in 126 kilometers. north-west of the capital of Armenia, Shirak at a mountain plateau. The city is known as a center of traditional crafts, Armenian architecture, science, health and tourism. Terrible earthquake in 1988 virtually destroyed the city, erasing from the face of the Earth its many attractions. But around Gyumri is still attractive and picturesque landscapes, areas of archaeological excavations, well preserved and many ancient temples and monasteries, including the fortress city of Gyumri (XIX cent.) Monastic complex Arichavank (VII-XIII cc.) Monastery Marmashen (988 -1029 gg.) Cathedral in the former capital of the kingdom of Bagration - Ani (XI cent.), the ruins of the Basilica of V century Anipemza and the famous monastery Harich (summer residence of the Catholicos, VII cent.) with the church Astvatsatsin (XII-XIII cc.) .

No less interesting fortress Loriberd (X-XII cc.) Near Stepanavan, excavations of settlements III millennium BC. e. About Vanadzor, the monastery Horakert (XII-XIII cc.), the ensemble Sanahin Monastery (presumably the IX.) and a unique Sanahin bridge (XII century.), the monastery in Haghpat (X cent.), the monastery Nor Getik or Goshavank (1188 ), monastery complex Haghartsin (XII-XIII cc.) Makaravank monastery (X cent.), etc. And, of course, deserves special attention Dilijan famous resort, spread out in a beautiful wooded spurs of the mountain basin Aghstev.

South-east - Vaiots dzor and Zangezur, harsh and beautiful for its magnificent mountain landscapes. Alpine valleys and plateaus, narrow canyons, wild rivers, alpine pastures, small lakes and picturesque settlement, literally cleave to the mountain slopes - these are the main attractions of the area. Here live proud and freedom-loving people, successfully withstood centuries of foreign invaders. It produces the best honey in the country and are proud of the most beautiful landscapes of the Caucasus. Here are the famous historical monuments such as the monastery Shatinvank (929), the church of S. Zorats in Alayaze (XIII cent.), The oldest of Zangezur Churches - Sisavan (VII cent.) With the ruins of a monastery Vorotnavank nearby monastery of Tatev (IX century. ), an ancient bridge in Vaiots dzor, Galidzor castle ruins, the monastery complex Noravank (XIII century). Orbelian kind of burial, the church in the Hagop S. Vernashene with its Museum of Gladzor University (one of the most famous educational centers of the Middle Ages, nowadays almost completely destroyed) cave settlements Bartsravane, Keres, and Khndzoresk Shinuhayr, as well as Jermuk resort with its famous warm mineral waters and a protected grove of plane-tree in the valley of the river Tsav.

Across the country, scattered over thousands of other unique historical and architectural monuments of past centuries. Worthy of mention monasteries Hadavank-Hatravank, Dadi, Surb Stepanos in Togh desert and Kaushik, which are inserted into the walls of dozens of cleverly ornamented cross-stones, which are in full force demonstrating the art of folk artists and inexhaustible imagination of master stone-cutters. Khachkar, Armenian cross is a true symbol of the country. The stone crosses in abundance all over the country, symbolizes the suffering, blood and sacrifices, which demanded a cruel story of this little old people. Khachkars can be found in the compass of the sanctuary, and in old cemeteries and lonely rising in the memory of some event in the obscure mountain top, and even in the courtyards of houses. And each of them made in a characteristic manner hudozhetsvennoy, equipped with an ornament or commemorative inscriptions, is associated with some event, and therefore can be considered as sufficient in itself a monument of history.

Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) recorded more than 1700 historical and architectural monuments, including some 600 monasteries and 500 churches, such as the church Hovhannes Mkrtich in Gandzasar Monastery Complex (1216-1238 gg.), The cathedral church of the monastery Dadi (1214 g .), the main church Gtchavanka (1241-1248 gg.), the cathedral church Hadavanka (1204) and unique temple murals Hutavanka. Worth ruins of the palace Khachen (XIII cent.) North Hohanaberda, the monastery Avaptuk (1163) 5 km. south Gandzasar, Vachara cemetery to the church of hewn basalt stones, a church in Mamakan Tsmakaohe, strength Kachahakaberd (IX cent.), the famous monastery of S. Hakob (presumably in VI.) monastic complex Kaushik Anapat (XII-XIII cc.) Church of S. Gevorg (XIII century.), hard Eghish Arakyal Monastery (XIII century.) Monastery (XVI century.) and lock (XVIII cent.) Ureki, a huge fortress Gyulatah, Mardakert Church (1883), monastery complex of S. Astvatsin ( 1174) near Dadivank, Akana fortress at the foot of Balin, fragments of a mysterious church complex Inn Mas plateau Chkaarta, as well as many historical and architectural ensembles in the valley of tartar.

Princely residence of the Kings are interested Surb Sargis, S. Gregory and Astvatsatsin and monastery Getamech (XII-XIII cc.) Is considered to be masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture. Hutavank ( "monastery on the hill") - a large architectural complex, one of the known historical centers of national culture. Unique and ancient fortress Djraberd, which has never been taken by the enemy, still many secrets of its defense system remains unknown.

The greatest length from north-west to south-east - 360 km, from west to east - 200 km.

Most nizmennnaya part of the country - 390 meters above sea level - in the valley of the river Debed.

Most of the country is mountainous.

The highest mountain peaks:

Aragats - 4090 meters above sea level (highest point)

Kaputdzhuh - 3906 meters above sea level

Azhdahak - 3598 meters above sea level

Spitakasar - 3555 meters above sea level

Vardenis - 3522 meters above sea level

Major Rivers of Armenia:

Araks - on the territory of Armenia, 158 km (total length 1072 km)

Akhuryan - on the territory of Armenia, 186 km

Vorotan - on the territory of Armenia, 119 km (total length 179 km)

Debed - on the territory of Armenia, 152 km (total length 178 km)

Razdan - on the territory of Armenia, 141 km

Agstev - on the territory of Armenia, 99 km (total length 133 km)

Major lakes in Armenia:

Lake Sevan - the area of the mirror - 1239 sq km, altitude 1898 meters

Arpi - Square mirror - 22 sq. km, altitude 2025 meters

Akna - Square mirror - 0.53 sq km, altitude 3030 meters

Sev - Square mirror - 2.0 sq. km, altitude 2666 meters

State Structure

The Republic of Armenia - an independent, democratic state.

Head of state - the president, endowed with great authority.

He is the guarantor of the country's independence, its territorial integrity and security.

Head of Government - Prime Minister.

The highest legislative body - the National Assembly.

Capital - Yerevan.

Official language - Armenian.

Currency - AMD.

Main religion - Christianity