Armenian highlands

A view of Lake Sevan from the Sevanavank monastery

Ararat from Doğubeyazıt

The Armenian Highland (Armenian Upland) is part of the Transcaucasian Highland and constitutes the continuation of the Caucasus mountains, also referred as eastern Armenia. Most of the Armenian Highland is in Turkey, with some part in Iran, also referred as western Armenia. Almost all of Armenia is within the Armenian Highland. The Armenian Upland also extends into western parts of Azerbaijan.

Its total area is about 400,000 km². (larger than the area of Japan). The highest point is Mount Ararat, 5,165 metres (16,945 ft). It is a mixture of lava plateaus, volcanic cones, and fault-fold ranges featuring mountain steppes and semi-deserts. There are a number of lakes in tectonic depressions (Lake Sevan, Lake Van, Lake Urmia). Though the name is often shown in international atlases, the name Armenian Highland or Armenian Upland is not used by the neighbouring countries of Armenia for political and historical reasons.

History

One of the first sightings of Armenians were the Urartu Kingdom located in Caucasia. Armenia still remains a Christian nation today although its neighboring countries almost all are muslim nations, Armenia accepted Christianity in 301 AD making Armenia the first state to ever adopt Christianity as there whole state. Armenia has helped build many popular cities even today, Armenia has ruins through out the middle east and Caucasia many ruins still live on in Eastern Turkey (Ancient Armenia) many churches and castles still live on in Eastern Turkey also. The lands where Armenians used to live now are populated by mostly Kurds. Although Armenians still have their own land most of their official lands were stolen during the 1915 Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire when 1.5 million Armenians were annihilated.

Greater Armenia

Tigranes the Great was one of Armenia's greatest kings he ruled Armenia from 95 to 55 BC, at one point he held the strongest empire in the roman east he was known for his wealth and power Tigran the great was often labeled as the king of kings. Greater Armenia consisted of 15 provinces, called worlds. Each province included a number of cantons. The 15 provinces or worlds of the Greater Armenia were: Ayrarat, Turuberan, Vaspurakan, Siunik, Higher Armenia, Forth Armenia, Aghdznik, Mokk, Korchek, Persian Armenia, Paytakaran, Artsakh, Outik, Gugark and Tayk. Tigran was later defeated by Roman Empire.

See also

• Eastern Armenia
• Greater Armenia