Armenia - Hoptale's Destination Guide

Armenia (Armenian Հայաստան, Hayastan) is one of the worlds oldest countries with over 10 millennia’s of recorded history. Under King Tigranes II the Great, from 95 to 55 B.C. Armenia thrived, and became the strongest state in the Roman east for a time. This wealth of resources made it a very attractive area to control. It became the world's first Christian country more than 1,700 years ago in 301 AD and has a large Diaspora all over the world.

As a former Soviet republic lying in the Caucasus region straddling Asia and Europe, Armenia has a rich and ancient culture. Landlocked, Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Iran to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and Azerbaijan's Naxcivan exclave to the southwest. Five percent of the country's surface area consists of Lake Sevan (Sevana Lich), the largest lake in the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Armenia's many mountains and mountain valleys create a great number of microclimates, with scenery changing from arid to lush forest at the top of a mountain ridge. (Armenia Wikitravel)