Armenia is located in the Caucasus and borders the countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. After a checkered history of oppression and foreign rule, the country declared its independence in 1991. See andyeducation.com for education in Armenia.
| Capital City | Jerewan |
| Size | 29.800 km² |
| Resident | 3.020.000 |
| Official Language | Armenian |
| Currency | Dram |
| Time Zone | UTC+4 |
| Telephone Area Code | +374 |
Fast facts to know
- Mountain country: 90% of the country is 1,000 meters above sea level or higher.
- Located at the intersection of the Asian and European continents.
- Houses great history and significant cultural heritage.
- A third of the country’s residents live in Yerevan.
- Armenian cuisine is one of the oldest cuisines in the world.
- Peaches and apricots originally come from Armenia, from where they were brought to Greece by Alexander the Great.
Exciting cities in Armenia
- Etschmiadsin
- Jerewan
- Dilijan
- Jermuk
- Khndzoresk
History of Armenia
- 850-600 BC Kingdom of Urartu.
- 521 BC first mention as Armenia.
- 546-331 BC rule of the Persians.
- Conquest by Alexander the Great.
- Late Antiquity: fought over and over again by Rome and Persia.
- Middle Ages: Decay of the country led by Arab tribes.
- Incorporation into the Ottoman Empire.
- Soviet rule and incorporation as the Armenian SSR.
- September 21, 1991 Declaration of Independence.
Climate & travel weather in Armenia
- Very different climate zones due to differences in altitude.
- Most of the country with a continental climate.
- Hot & dry summers, cold winters.
- Best travel time: May to October
Ideas for trips in Armenia
- Holy Mount Ararat
- Kloster Geghard
- Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries
- The Cascade
- TaTever & Kloster Tatev
- Temple of Garni
- Goris rock caves
- Gandassar Monastery
- Fort Amberd
Food & Drink in Armenia
- Most important food: bread (lavash – thin flatbread made from flour, water and salt).
- Liked to eat – grilled and roasted pork, beef and lamb.
- Unmanageable variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Abundant use of herbs and wild plants.
- Regarded as the motherland of viticulture.
- Very good beers such as the Kilikia, Kotayk and Erebuni brands.
- Armenians like to drink a lot of coffee.
- Breakfast rather unimportant, rich main meal at 5 p.m.
- Typical dishes:
- Dolma (stuffed grape leaves).
- Tzhvzhik (braised beef heart and beef liver).
- Blinkick (smoked cheese).
- Tan (mixture of yogurt and water, salted).
- Lahmajo (crepes with minced meat topping).
- Ishli qufta (stuffed oblong pie).
- Alani (candied peach with nuts).
Particularly scenic
- Chains of the Lesser Caucasus in the north
- Vulkanische Hochfläche des Aragaz
- Ararat plain in the south-west
- Hunot Gorge
- Sewansee
