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Climate
Armenia has a tremendous climatic variety packed in a
small physical area. From the sunny Ararat valley and
its bountiful fruits to the idyllic snowcapped mountain
ranges, which traverse the land, Armenia's diverse
nature is a reflection of its broad climatic range.
Moreover, several microclimates exist due to the
country's mountainous terrain. A day that is sunny and
hot in the Ararat Valley may be quite brisk near the
windswept mountainous lakes, and snowing in the upper
regions of Mount Aragats. The rolling hills and high
flats seem as if they were sculpted for rugged
cross-country skiing in the winter, while Lake Sevan in
the summertime is a wonderful destination for swimming,
sunbathing, and relaxation. Average temperatures in the
country's capital, Yerevan, range from -5 oC
in winter to 30 oC in summer, although
extreme days can see the thermometer fall to -10 oC
and the hottest summer days have topped out over 40 oC.
Average precipitation ranges from less than 12 inches
per year in the lower Arax River valley to about 36
inches per year at the highest altitudes.
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