Why are Armenia’s summers hot in lowland areas?

Armenia’s lowland areas experience hot summers primarily due to the country's geographic position within the deep interior of the northern subtropical zone, which results in a dry, continental climate characterized by intense sunshine throughout much of the year.1

This heat is intensified by the surrounding topography. The ranges of the Lesser Caucasus act as a barrier, preventing humid air masses from reaching the inner regions of the country. Consequently, these sheltered inland plains and hollows receive very little annual rainfall—typically only 8 to 16 inches—which contributes to the dry, subtropical conditions that define the climate in the lower elevations.12