Lake Sevan Size report
Lake Sevan is the largest mountain lake in the Caucasus, 60 kilometers away from Yerevan, and is a famous tourist destination. The name of the lake is derived from the Armenian "black temple" because there is an ancient temple built with black materials in the 4th century on a small island in the northwest corner of the lake.
Lake Sevan is located in eastern Armenia and is a large alpine lake. The lake water flows into the Arax River through the Hrazdan River in the south, but most of the lake water is lost through evaporation. It is known as "Tears of the Caucasus" because of its beautiful natural scenery and blue water.
The climate in the lake area is cold and dry, so the water temperature is relatively low, making it an excellent summer resort. Locals like to come here for camping, swimming, and picnics in summer. Lake Sevan is rich in fish resources, especially trout, which are famous for their delicious meat and rich nutrition.
Size And Description of Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is formed by tectonic collapse and occupies about 3% of Armenia's total land area. The lake lies in a mountain-enclosed basin, 28 small rivers feed into the lake, and it drains by the Hrazdan River into the Aras River and to the Caspian Sea, but most of its water is lost by evaporation rather than by runoff. Lake Sevan consists of two parts, the northwest part, Maly Sevan, is smaller but deeper with a maximum depth of 86 meters (282 feet), and the southeast part, Bolshoy Sevan, is larger but shallower with a depth of 40 meters (131 feet).
Due to the construction of 6 hydropower stations on the Hrazdan River, the water level of Lake Sevan plummeted in recent decades. The water level only began to stabilize in the 1970s when a 49-kilometer tunnel was built to divert the Alpa River into the lake.
Lake Sevan Size
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia, with a surface area of 1,360 sq km (525 sq miles). Its maximum length is 74 km (46 miles), and its widest point is 32 km (20 miles). Surrounded by mountains, it is 1,905 meters (6,250 feet) above sea level, and the average depth is about 26.8 meters (88 feet).
| Features | Size |
|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 1,905 m (6,250 ft) |
| Surface area | 1,360 sq km (525 sq mi) |
| Max. length | 74 km (46 mi) |
| Max. width | 32 km (20 mi) |
| Max. depth | 86 m (282 ft) |
| Average depth | 26.8 m (88 ft) |
| Salinity | 0.7% |
Threaten
Global warming is causing the water volume of Lake Sevan to decrease. It is expected that the evaporation of water from Lake Sevan will increase by 15% by 2025 compared to now, while the water inflow will decrease by 10%, the lake level will drop by 20 meters, and the lake area will be reduced by 40%. In order to protect Lake Sevan, experts from the Armenian Ministry of Natural Environment have proposed emergency measures to ban the use of lake water and freeze a series of power and agricultural works on the lake. Strictly control the power station's water use to maintain the lake's water level.
History of the Lake Sevan
Armenia is landlocked in the southern Transcaucasus, where Asia meets Europe. For two or three thousand years, countless churches, castles, and Khatchkar have been built along the lake, and countless passing caravans have made the ancient silk roads around the lake dense like cobwebs. The Sevanagh Monastery was built in the 9th century and is very small. After eleven centuries of wind and frost, it has become the most famous scenic spot on the lakeside, and the name Lake Sevan is also derived from it.
The lake dried up due to water diversion projects in the former Soviet Union in the 20th century. As the lake water was used to develop agriculture and industry, the water resources were finally depleted, and the environment was severely damaged. But then the government introduced strict policies to restore Lake Sevan Ecology and the normal water cycle. The lake area is currently an important tourist destination in Armenia.
Final Words
Armenia is a small country packed with astonishing landscapes and attractions. The most famous one is Lake Sevan; viewing the image of Lake Sevan itself is enough to excite anyone to go and see Lake Sevan. Millions of tourists visit the Lake Sevan region every year for vacation. The vast Lake Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus and one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Its colors and shades change with the weather, and its beaches are popular with Russian tourists and noisy day-trippers.
