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| Location: |
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
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| Geographic coordinates: |
40 00 N, 45 00 E
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| Map references: |
Commonwealth of Independent States
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| Area: |
total:
29,800 sq km
land:
28,400 sq km
water:
1,400 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Maryland
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
1,254 km
border countries:
Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
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| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
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| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
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| Climate: |
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
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| Terrain: |
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Debed River 400 m
highest point:
Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
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| Natural resources: |
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
3%
permanent pastures:
24%
forests and woodland:
15%
other:
41% (1993 est.)
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| Irrigated land: |
2,870 sq km (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
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| Environment - current issues: |
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
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| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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| Geography - note: |
landlocked
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