Environmental Geography

Armenia is a landlocked country surrounded by Turkey, Iran, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Armenia's total area is total: 29,800 sq km with 28,400 sq km of it being land, and 1,400 sq km being water. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with rivers, and few forests, and rich soil. The lands lowest point is Debed River 400 m and the highest point being Aragats Lerrnagagat' at 4,090 m.  This small country has a small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, and alumina, and natural hazards of earthquakes and droughts. 

Climate

The climate in Armenia is a highland continental, summers being dry and sunny, while winters are cold and have plenty of snow. Yerevan, the capital city, features varies in temperature. In the winter, the temperature of Yerevan may go down to 10 degree centigrade, while in extreme summer the temperature rises above 40 degree centigrade. The climate in Armenia also has variations of rainfall pattern. The yearly precipitation in the low-lying regions is significantly lower than that of the mountainous terrains. The Arax River valley receives 12 inches of rainfall yearly on average, and the mountain ranges of the Armenian Territory receive heavy rainfall all through the year. The rainy season occurs twice a year; the first one lasting from spring to early summer while the months of October and November experience the second half of the rain.

Environmental Issues

Waste management in Armenia is underdeveloped, with no waste sorting, or recycling takes place in Armenia's landfills, air, water, and soil pollution are other issues that of which are concerning. Armenia was faced with an energy crises in the 1990s which people scavenged for firewood ultimately led to deforestation. 

Resources
http://www.mapsofworld.com/armenia/armenia-climate.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia#Location
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcarmenia.htm

Population and Settlement

Population

Armenia's estimated population of 2012 is 2,970,495. The capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is the largest and most populated city in Armenia with an estimated 1,100,000 people in the metropolitan area. The Armenian emigration has been heavy since their independence from the Soviet Union. An estimated 60% of the total 8 million Armenians worldwide live outside the country, with 1 million each in the United States and Russia. Other countries which have large Armenian communities are Georgia, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, and Canada. 

Settlement

Most of Armenia's population settlements are in the urban areas. Armenia's capital Yerevan, and other cities such as Vanadzor, Gyumri, and Abovian has the most density of people, with the rural areas having the least population density. Armenia Population density per square mile is estimated to be around 258. .95 percent of Armenia Population is made up of ethnic Armenians. Besides the indigenous people, Armenia Population also features Kurds, Yezidis, Russian, Assyrians and Greeks. Georgians, Belarusians, Ukrainians are the other minorities living in the Republic of Armenia.

Growth Rate: 0.11%

Birth Rate: 12.9/1000

Infant Mortality Rate: 18.21/1000

Life Expectancy: 73.49

Density per sq mi: 258

Resources

http://www.mapsofworld.com/armenia/armenia-population.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia#Diaspora

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107292.html?pageno=2

Cultural Coherence and Diversity

A landlocked country located in the South Caucasus part of Eurasia, Armenia has a rich history and is one of the worlds oldest civilizations. Armenia's history extends for over 3,000 years and have for the most part inhabited  the "Armenian Highlands", a vast section of mountains and valleys across eastern Anatolia and the Southern Caucasus. Throughout its history Armenia has been under Roman, Greek, Mongol, Persian, and Ottoman Turkish rule, but despite all that Armenians managed to hold on to their language, religion, literature, and art. 

Language 

Armenian is the official language of Armenia. The Armenian language has it's own script and alphabet, linguists classify Armenian as an independent branch of the Indo European language family. Besides from Armenian, Russian is the second most popular language in Armenia. 

Religion

Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, which is dated back to AD 301. The Armenian church goes back all the way to the 1st century, which according to tradition, the Armenian church was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles Thaddaeus and Bartholomew who were said to be preaching Christianity in Armenian between AD 40-60. The official name of the church in Armenia is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which over 93% of Armenians belong too. The Armenian Apostolic Church is known to be very ritualistic and conservative. The Armenian Apostolic Church has their own religious leader called the Catholicos, which is like the Pope for Catholics. Baptists, Presbyterians, and Catholics can also be found in Armenia. 

Music

Folk, classical, and religious music has a long history and tradition in Armenia. During the Ottaman time of rule, folk music was very popular, and while Armenia was under Soviet rule, folk music was taught in state sponsored conservatoires. Instruments such as davul, a double headed hand drum, kanun, a dulcimer, and a duduk are traditional instruments used to play Armenian folk music. Along with folk music, classical music is also very popular in Armenia and dates back to when Armenia was under Ottoman rule. Armenian chant, is the most common kind of religious music in Armenia. 

Dance 

The origins of Armenian dance derives from pre Christian period of pagan worship, stemming from pagan rituals and games. Armenian dance is an important form of expression in Armenia, which is practiced everyday. in weddings, and rituals. 

Reources
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107292.html?pageno=1
http://wikitravel.org/en/Armenia
http://www.bert.am/html/arm_folk_dans_en.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Armenia#Folk_music