Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery

Lake Sevan: The Blue Pearl

Lake Sevan, often referred to as the "Blue Pearl of Armenia," is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Situated at an altitude of about 1,900 meters above sea level, it covers an area of approximately 1,240 square kilometers, making it the largest lake in the Caucasus region.

• Elevation above sea level: 1,898 meters

• Dimensions: 74 km long × 32 km wide

• Surface area: 1,240 km²

• Water volume: 36.1 km³

• Maximum depth: 79.7 meters

• Average depth: 26.8 meters

Since 1923, Soviet authorities developed plans to use Lake Sevan's water for irrigation and energy. In 1926–1930, a scientific commission studied the lake basin. At the time (1927), the lake stood at an elevation of 1,935 meters.

In 1931, a plan proposed lowering the lake level by 55 meters over 50 years—shrinking it to a 299 km² body known as "Little Sevan." The exposed land was to be used for agriculture and forestry.

Work began in 1933, including the deepening of the Hrazdan River bed and construction of drainage tunnels 40 meters below the lake. Full-scale water withdrawal started in 1937 with the launch of the Sevan–Hrazdan hydro-irrigation complex, boosting Armenia’s Soviet-era economy. By the end of that year, the lake had already dropped 10 meters.

World War II delayed further work until 1949. After that, the lake level fell by over 1 meter annually, triggering serious ecological consequences. Combined with rising wastewater discharge, this led to eutrophication—an explosion in organic matter from 25,000 tons in the 1930s to 150,000 tons by 1999. Lake Sevan began to “bloom” with algae, threatening its water quality and making it unsuitable for drinking or agriculture.

Sevanavank monastic complex in winter

By the late 1950s, the project to lower the lake was reconsidered. The exposed land turned out to be infertile, and Sevan remained Armenia’s only major freshwater reserve. A 1961 report by the Armenian Academy of Sciences urged halting the decline. At that point, the lake had dropped 13.7 meters. Plans were set in motion to divert water from the Vorotan and Arpa rivers back into the lake.

Implementation began in 1981 with the construction of a 48.3 km tunnel from the Kechut reservoir. The second tunnel, 21.6 km long, connecting Vorotan and Arpa, began in the late 1980s but stalled during the economic crisis and was only completed in 2003. Water flow officially resumed in 2004.

Since then, the lake has been recovering. In 2006, its level rose by 41 cm compared to the previous year. Between 2006 and 2010, annual increases ranged from 25 to 35 cm.

However, Lake Sevan remains vulnerable. Any drop in water level poses a serious threat to its fragile ecosystem, water quality, and long-term role as Armenia’s key freshwater reserve.

Lake Sevan and Artanish Peninsula

The lake is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Its shores are dotted with beaches, resorts, and recreational facilities. Visitors can enjoy various water activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, and fishing. The surrounding area also offers opportunities for hiking, camping, and exploring the natural beauty of Armenia.

Lake Sevan is not only a natural beauty but also an ecological treasure. It supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to the region. The lake's ecosystem is crucial for the local environment, providing habitat for numerous species of fish, birds, and plants.

Fishes

Lake Sevan is home to several endemic fish species:

• Sevan beghlou (or barbel, Barbus goktschaicus)

• Sevan khramulya (Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi)

• Sevan trout, also known as ishkhan (Salmo ischchan)
  

Sevan trout, also known as ishkhan (Salmo ischchan)

Historically, the ishkhan included four subspecies. Today, two of them — the winter bakhtak and the bodzhak — are extinct. The remaining subspecies are critically endangered.

Birds Lake Sevan is a key habitat for the Armenian gull (Larus armenicus), with an estimated 4,000–5,000 breeding pairs.

Armenian gull (Larus armenicus)

Other bird species that frequent the lake include:

• Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)

• Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus)

• Red-crested pochard (Netta rufina)

• Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca)

• Great black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus)

A painting by Hovhannes Aivazovsky titled "Sevan Lake, Sunrise," 1869. Notice that the painting shows the Sevan Peninsula while it was still an island

Sevanavank Monastery: A Spiritual Haven

Perched on a peninsula that juts into the northwestern part of Sevan Lake is the Sevanavank Monastery, one of Armenia's most iconic religious sites. The monastery, which dates back to the 9th century, was founded by Princess Mariam, the daughter of King Ashot I. Originally, the complex included three churches, but only two have survived to the present day: the Church of St. Arakelots (Holy Apostles) and the Church of St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God).

The Church of St. Arakelots (Holy Apostles)

The architecture of Sevanavank is a fine example of medieval Armenian design. The churches are constructed from black tuff, a volcanic rock that gives the buildings their distinctive dark appearance. The simplicity and solidity of the structures, combined with their stunning location overlooking the lake, create a sense of tranquility and reverence. Sevanavank has played a significant role in Armenian history. During the medieval period, it served as an important center for learning and spiritual growth.

Sevan Writers' Rest House

Located on the Sevan Peninsula, the Sevan Writers’ Rest House is an architectural gem and a landmark of Soviet Modernist design. Conceived by prominent Armenian architects Gevorg Kochar and Mikayel Mazmanyan, the complex was built in two phases: first came the Residence Hall, followed by the now-iconic Lounge building.

The earliest sketches of the Residence Hall date back to 1932, and archival materials confirm that construction was completed by 1935. Tragically, the political repression of the era did not spare the architects. During the Great Purge of 1937, both Kochar and Mazmanyan were arrested at their workplace, and their lives turned into a struggle for survival. In 1963, decades after the original construction—and following his release from imprisonment—Gevorg Kochar was invited to lead the resort’s reconstruction and expansion. As part of the redesign, he added an additional floor to the Residence Hall, introducing a broad terrace that organically extended the logic and aesthetics of the original concept.

Kochar also introduced a new Lounge building during the reconstruction. Though stylistically distinct from the Residence Hall, the two structures formed a strikingly harmonious ensemble, blending with the surrounding landscape and visually incorporating the medieval Sevan Monastery churches perched atop the peninsula.