Lake Sevan , which extends in the vastness of Armenia, surrounded by the Geghama mountains, can rightly be called a miracle of nature. It is elevated above sea level by 1916 meters. The water in Lake Sevan, the temperature of which even in summer heat does not exceed +20 degrees, is so clean that even small pebbles on the bottom are visible. An ancient legend says that only gods drank it.
History of Lake origin
Sevan is a bright tourist attraction in Armenia . Scientists disagree about the origin of this lake. The most plausible hypothesis of all the proposed ones is that volcanic processes took place in the Gegam mountains in the distant past, which led to the formation of a deep basin filled with water.
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The southern slopes of the mountains, which descend to the lake, are covered with small round-shaped craters. Fresh water is collected in them. Of the 28 rivers that flow into the lake, the length of the largest does not exceed 50 kilometers, and only one Hrazdan river flows from Sevan. The Armenian government was concerned about the fact that the lake was not diminishing. Under the Vardenis ridge, a 48-kilometer tunnel was built, along which water from the Arpa enters Sevan. In the vicinity of the lake there are two cities, several villages and a hundred small villages. The water from Sevan to the residents of the surroundings is a vital necessity.
In the past, the banks of the Sevan were covered with thick oak and beech forests, but over time, the territories were impoverished because of excessive logging. Today these places are planted with plantations. And it's not just that the Armenian government is building a lucrative territory for tourists to relax on Lake Sevan. Deforestation is a threat to the life of 1,6 thousand species of unique plants and 20 species of rare species of mammals. In the lake are also bred valuable species of fish (trout, pike perch, barbel, whitefish, shrimp).
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Rest on the lake
Not every foreign tourist knows where Lake Sevan is, because Armenians consider it to be a national treasure and are cherished as the apple of the eye. In the city of the same name, which is located on the shore of the lake, there are several quite decent hotels where you can stay. You can get there from the capital of Armenia - Yerevan , which is located only 60 km from the lake. There are cafes and restaurants. The weather on Lake Sevan is always different from the weather in the city, because the lake is high in the mountains. You can swim in it only in August-September, when the water warms up to + 20-21 degrees.
In addition to rest at the lake, you can visit the Hayravank church, Sevanavank monastery, Selim canyon, Noratus museum.
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