Armenia is a sovereign state in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. It became the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion. The ancient Armenian kingdom was split between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires. Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the mountains of Ararat. On 21 September 1991, Armenia officially declared its independence. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia. Armenian cuisine includes traditional dishes such as harissa and khash. Mount Ararat is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in Turkey.