The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and fundraising for extremist

       organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over

       Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint

       with Argentina in question

      Illicit drugs:

       used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and

       the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border

       Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing

      This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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      @Armenia

      Introduction Armenia

      Background:

       Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt

       Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over

       the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires

       including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was

       incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian

       leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim

       Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated

       region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow.

       Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the

       struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from

       the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold,

       Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a

       significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both

       sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress

       toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on

       Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian

       occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

      Geography Armenia

      Location:

       Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

      Geographic coordinates:

       40 00 N, 45 00 E

      Map references:

       Asia

      Area:

       total: 29,800 sq km

       water: 1,400 sq km

       land: 28,400 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

      Coastline:

       0 km (landlocked)

      Maritime claims:

       none (landlocked)

      Climate:

       highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

      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 Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

      Natural resources:

       small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

      Land use: arable land: 17.55% permanent crops: 2.3% other: 80.15% (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       2,870 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

      Environment - current issues:

       soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis

       of the 1990s 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 in spite of its location in a

       seismically active zone

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate

       Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the

       Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

       signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

      Geography - note:

       landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake

       Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

      People Armenia

      Population:

       2,991,360

       note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in

       October 2001 (July 2004 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 22.7% (male 357,094; female 323,396)

       15–64 years: 66.7% (male 929,719; female 1,065,505)

       65 years and over: 10.6% (male 128,027; female 187,619) (2004 СКАЧАТЬ