Armenia

Official name: Republic of Armenia Political system: Presidential Republic Geographical location: in the Southern part of Transcaucasia Area: 29,74 thousand sq. km Population: 3,42 million peolpe (1998), Armenian - 90%, Russian - 5,5% Capital: Yerevan - 1,3 million people (1998) Major cities: Gyumri - 228,4 thousand people, Vanadzor - 60 thousand people (1998) Main languages: Armenian (official), Russian Religions: primarily Christians (Armenian Apostle Church) Climate: continental, dry Average temperature: from -14C to -2C in January; from +18C to +20C in July Monetary unit: dram Local time: standart time - GMT+4; summer time - GMT+5 National holidays: September, 21st - the Independence Day (1991) Major tourist sights: Sevan mountain lake; Arzni, Tsakhkadzor, Dzhermuk resorts; natural preserves: Khosrovsky, Dilizhansky; Pagan Temple of the Sun - Garni (1 century), Echmiadzin Cathedral (4 century), Zvartnots Palace ruins (7 century), Gegard Mountain Monastery (4-13 centuries); Tatev (9 century), Noravank (12-13 centuries), Sanain and Akhpat (10-13 centuries) Monasteries, Metsamor Arheology Museum (bronze era); in Yerevan: the world largest Matenadaran Museum of Ancient Manuscripts, Erebuni Museum-Fortress of Urartu period (8 century B.C.),Sergey Paradzhanov Cottage Museum