Lake Sevan — a miracle of nature, next door to the sky, the most beautiful of alpine lakes, located in the vast most of the mountains at an altitude of 1916 m above sea level. Its water is clear and pure, according to legend, he drank only from the stars and the gods.
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
One of the most beautiful sights in ArmeniaIt is Lake Sevan and its surroundings. There are several hypotheses of origin of Lake Sevan. Most likely, this lake was born a few thousand years ago as a result of volcanic processes occurring in the surrounding mountains Geghama. On the southern slopes to the lake are dozens geometric circular craters filled with fresh water. In Sevan 28 rivers flow, all small, the largest — Maerik — is less than 50 km. only Hrazdan flows out of the lake. However, the waters of rivers flowing only to restore the supply and the water level will not succeed, because the evaporation in the hot pot between treeless mountains is 88% brought by the rivers of water. Therefore, a decision was made permanent the additional discharge of water in Sevan from the south, from the pool of Arpa tunnel length of 48 km under the Vardenis ridge and afforestation Sevan surrounding hillsides. The area of ​​the lake in 1200 square kilometers, the pool it is about four times more — 4850 sq.km. Here are 2 of the city, two of the village, about 100 villages, where more than 250,000 people.
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
It is believed that the name of the lake was the name of the ancient temple of Sev Vank, which was built on the northwest peninsula in IX. This title is translated from Armenian means «Black Monastery» and the temple really is made of black tuff. There is a version of the even more ancient origin of the name. At Urartu, who lived here before the arrival of the Armenians, the lake was called Tsuini, Sweeney, and how close to Sevan pronunciation. Tsuini supposedly means «the pond».
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
Once the shore of Lake Sevan were covered with dense forests — beech, oak and other valuable species of trees, which are used in shipbuilding. Now the woodland area languish, and so there are intensive plantations in coastal areas.
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
At the same time the maximum length of the lake from the village. Tsovagyugh in the north-west to Tsovak port on the south-east is 75 km and the maximum width from the coast of the Gulf Artundzh north to Martuni regional center in the south of equal 37 km. The minimum width of the beacon on the spit Shogel the south to the north cape Uchtash was only 8 km.
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
Part lake west this narrow bridge is called Small Sevan, and there was the maximum depth of 84 m, in the east, at the exit from the bay Artundzh — 51 m and to bridge between the portions — 58 m.
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
The flora and fauna of this corner are quite diverse: here there are about 1600 species of plants and trees, home to nearly 20 species of mammal, but especially a lot of birds. This rock partridge, mallard, Ogar, gulls, and during the flight on the lake resting pelicans, flamingos, mute swan, swan-shouter, cormorants and others — all to 180 species, some of them nest.
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
Sevan — a single fishing area of ​​the Republic, where the divorced valuable fish species — species of trout, walleye, khramulya, barbel, brought from Ladoga whitefish and others. Trout, who was called «prince-fish» (trout) is now listed as endangered, its population is maintained artificially in 4 hatcheries.
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
Tourists can take a trip around Lake Sevan in different ways: on bicycles, motorcycles or cars on the ring road, or rowing and sailing and rowing boats along the shore. The length of the trip in any way around the Sevan now stands at no less than 200 km.
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
The lake is endemic species of fish: Sevan Begley (barbel) (Barbus goktschaicus), Sevan khramulya (Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi), Sevan trout (trout, Salmo ischchan). The latter was previously presented 4 subspecies (currently extinct subspecies winter bakhtak and bodzhak); It is endemic to Lake Sevan, but his existence is threatened because of the competing fish species introduced by or caught in the lake from other places. These are: whitefish passage (Coregonus lavaretus), which was introduced by Ladoga and Peipus lakes, goldfish (Carassius gibelio) and Astacus leptodactylus (Astacus leptodactylus).
Lake Sevan, landmark, ArmeniaLake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
On the shore of the lake were established fish farms for artificial breeding trout. At that time, both in the Sevan trout is an endangered species, apparently, it is perfectly caught in the Lake Issyk-Kul, where they were introduced from Lake Sevan.
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
The Lake Sevan basin created by «Sevan» National Park with four nature reserves and ten sanctuaries. The lake is an important center of population Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus), the number of which is up to 4,000-5,000 pairs. Other birds staying on the lake — tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus), fronted goose (Anser erythropus), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) and the black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus).
Lake Sevan, landmark, Armenia
Lake Sevan is located on the coast known monuments of culture and recreational resources: mineral springs, clean air, beautiful nature. On the shore of the lake is growing artificial forest (pine, broad-leaved trees and buckthorn).