Lake Sevan Day in Armenia

Sevanavank Monastery (874)The last Sunday of August since 1999 has been declared Sevan Day. This decision was made by the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia, including in the program for the conservation of Lake Sevan activities related to this day, including cleaning the coast of Sevan. Environmental and scouting teams participate in these activities. They are under the control of employees of the Sevan National Park.

Sevan (Arm. е) is a high-mountain lake in Armenia, the largest in the Caucasus.

Sevan is located at an altitude of 1900 m; an area of 1240 km2, a depth of 83 m. 28 rivers flow into the lake, and the Hrazdan River (tributary of Arax) flows out. Lake of tectonic dam nature. The basin is of tectonic origin, and the dam was formed relatively recently, due to the outpouring of Holocene lavas. Sevan is surrounded by mountain ranges: from the north-west - Pambak, from the north-east - Sevan and Areguni, from the west and south - Gegham and Vardenis ridges.

Lake Sevan is freshwater, the water surface has an azure blue color. Water mineralization is about 700 mg / l, the dry residue is 0.5 g / l.

Lake Sevan is known for cultural monuments and recreational resources located on the coast: mineral springs, clean air, ultraviolet rays, beautiful nature. On the shore of the lake there is an artificial forest (pine, broadleaf rocks and sea buckthorn).

Of the historical monuments on the coast of Sevan, the most famous is the monastery of Sevanavank, located on a peninsula near the city of Sevan in the northwestern part of the lake. Initially, the monastery was located on the island, but due to the lowering of the water level, an isthmus was formed, connecting the island with land. Another monastery is located on the western slope of Ayrivank.

On the shore of the lake is the village of Noraduz, famous for the largest cemetery of khachkars, numbering about 900 khachkars of different eras and styles. Khachkars are also in the village of Nerkin Getashen on the southern coast. After lowering the water level, numerous archaeological artifacts dating back 2,000 years or more (some from the Bronze Age) were discovered. Most of these artifacts are in the museums of Yerevan.