Armenia, positioned in the rugged Caucasus region bridging Asia and Europe, is both a nation and a former Soviet republic. Renowned for its ancient Christian heritage, it boasts revered religious sites such as the Greco-Roman Temple of Garni and the fourth-century Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which serves as the headquarters of the Armenian Church. Situated within the geopolitical Transcaucasus area, Armenia is a landlocked country nestled amidst the Southern Caucasus Mountains and adjoining lowlands, lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and northeast of the Armenian Highlands. Bordered by Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Iran to the south, and Turkey to the southwest and west, Armenia experiences a highland continental climate characterized by dry conditions and distinct seasons. Temperature fluctuations are notable throughout the year, with summers generally pleasant, reaching around 25 degrees Celsius, though soaring temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon in the Ararat valley.