Form of government: Semi-Presidential Republic
Independence Day: September 21, 1991
Capital: Yerevan (about 1.3 million)
Official language: Armenian
Area: 29,800 km²
Time zone: UTC + 4
Highest point: Aragats 4095 m above sea level
Population: 3.2 million (Sept. 2014)
Currency: Dram (AMD)
Telephone code: +374
Neighboring countries:
In the North: Georgia 164 km
In the West: Turkey 268 km
In the South: Iran 35 km
In the East: Azerbaijan 787 km
Provinces (marzer) and administrative centers
Yerevan: Capital
Population: 1,121,900
Aragatsotn Province: Ashtarak
Population: 168,100
Ararat: Artashat
Population: 311,400
Armavir: Armavir
Population: 323,300
Gegharkunik: Gavar
Population: 278,600
Kotayk: Hrazdan
Population: 328,900
Lori: Vanadzor
Population: 392,300
Shirak: Gyumri
Population: 361,400
Syunik: Kapan
Population: 164 000
Tavush: Ijevan
Population: 156 500
Vayots Dzor: Yeghegnadzor
Population: 69 400
Etchmiadzin is the religious centre of Armenia. Here, a real masterpiece, the Mother Cathedral is located. Besides, two other churches are well-known as well and are the popular places to visit. These are the churches of the Saints Gayane and Hripsime.
Hidden among one of the many rivers of Tavush and in the dense forest in the mountains, lies the monastery Makaravank, about three kilometres west of the village Achajur.
Lchashen, which used to be called Ordaklu until 1946, is a large village in Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. The settlement dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. A 13th-century church, an Iron Age Urartian fortress, and a Bronze Age cemetery can be explored here.
In the north of Armenia, on the right bank of the Dzoraget River, the medieval fortress of Lori-Berd may be discovered which is located in the province of Lori.
Kobayr Monastery, dating back to the 12th-13th centuries, is an Armenian-Georgian monastic complex, and its name is a compound word: Kob in Georgian and ayr in Armenian both mean "cave".
