Armenia: Essential information
The main attractions in Armenia are outdoor activities and historical sightseeing. The country boasts some beautiful scenery and its nature is relatively untouched. The Shikahogh reserve, in the south of the country, apparently features forest so dense no human has ever set foot there. In the cold and snowy winters, skiing opportunities abound in the country's small but well-equipped ski resort.
A mountainous country in the southern Caucuses, Armenia is landlocked between Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The former Soviet state's lowest point is 396 metres (1,300 feet) and the country rises to its highest peak, Mount Aragats, at 4,090 metres. Mount Ararat, the Armenian national symbol, is just over the border in Turkey but at 5,165 metres (16,945 feet) high it looms over the capital, Yerevan. Compensating for the country's lack of coast is Lake Sevan, which covers close to 5% of Armenian territory.
The first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion, Armenia features hundreds of churches and monasteries, which are usually located on the tops of hills or in the heart of steep gorges. Further off the beaten track there are carved monuments known as Khachkars, which bear a close resemblance to the Celtic cross. Yerevan is a small but pleasant capital that regularly features all kinds of cultural events.
The country has some excellent food and the increasing numbers of tourists, who mostly come from the 4 million-strong Armenian diaspora, are pushing up standards. Although Armenians are not quite as keen on drinking as their neighbours in Georgia they still make some excellent cognacs, vodka, wine and beer.
History hangs heavily around the neck of Armenia. Political discourse is still dominated by the genocide of 1915, in which Armenians say more than a million of their kin were marched out of their homes in eastern Turkey and killed by Turkish forces. Turkey denies these killings were genocide and describes the incident as a civil war in which Armenians and Turks were killed.
News and current affairs

world news guide
Best sites

cilicia.com
armeniainfo.am
armeniapedia.org
If you only do three things

Lake SevanEchmiadzinYerevan's cafe and restaurant scene
Language

Climate

Health

Netdoctor.co.uk
Food

Events

January 6:
April 24:
July 10-15:
September 21:
December 7:
What to buy

Embassies and visas

UK:


Armenia:
British Embassy in Armenia



Visa requirements:here
Currency

Timezone

International calling code

Getting there

The borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed. The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is six hours away by road and Tehran is 11 hours away.
Related literature

The crossing place, Phillip Marsden:
Ararat (film, 2002):
Vodka Lemon (film, 2003):