Freshwater Lake Sevan is one of the main natural attractions of Armenia. On its northwestern shore there are several beach hotels where people can relax and swim in summer. Since Armenia has no access to the sea, many residents come here on vacation.
Lake Sevan is of volcanic origin. It consists of two unequal parts of the Small Sevan in the north (its depth reaches 80 meters), and the Big Sevan in the south (its depth does not exceed 30 meters). 28 rivers and streams flow into Lake Sevan, and only the Hrazdan River flows out, and then flows northwest to Yerevan side. Until the middle of the Middle Ages, the lake was called Gegham. The name Sevan comes from the Sevanavank Monastery, which was built on a rocky island near the northwest coast.
Lake Sevan is located at an altitude of 1897 meters above sea level. The Vardenis mountain range rises above its southern shore. In these places, the shore of the lake is rocky. Considering the altitude above sea level, the water temperature in Lake Sevan is quite cool. In summer, it warms up to 22-23 degrees. However, the summer months in Armenia are so hot that people enjoy swimming in the lake.
Almost all most famous Beaches of the Sevan Lake and hotels are located on its northwestern shore. The most popular beaches are located near the Sevanavank Monastery. To the south of the small peninsula where the temples of the Sevanavank Monastery are located is Gegham Beach.
There are several recreation centers here. This area on the shore of the lake is the most developed. You can stay in hotels for a few days or buy a ticket, use their infrastructure, but do not stay overnight. The Harsnaqar Resort is located here. On its territory there is a sandy beach and a water park. The Seven Up Inn Hotel is located on the northern shore of Lake Sevan, near the town of Tsovagyukh. This is one of the most famous resort hotels in Armenia, where people come for a beach holiday.
Nowadays, the area of Lake Sevan is only 1,238 km2, and before 1936 it reached 1,416 km2. The water level in Lake Sevan was artificially lowered by 20 meters due to the construction project of irrigation systems. At the beginning of the 20th century, Armenian scientists suggested that due to the large water mirror, most of the water evaporates, and proposed using it for irrigation of the Ararat Valley and agricultural development.
In 1933, the construction of underground tunnels began, which caused the water level of Sevan to drop sharply. This disrupted the ecosystem of the lake. In many places, the lake water began to "bloom" in the summer and the quality of drinking water deteriorated. The experiment with artificial lowering of the water level of Lake Sevan was considered unsuccessful and all work was stopped. In the 1980s, it was even necessary to build other underground tunnel from the Arpa River to begin work on raising the water level of the lake.
There are two ancient monasteries on the shore of Lake Sevan. Sevanavank Monastery used to be located on the island, but after lowering the water level in the lake, it is located on the Sevan peninsula. It was founded in 874. The Hayravank Monastery is located on the eastern shore of Lake Sevan. An ancient chapel was built on this site in the 9th century, and the monastery was founded in the 14th century.
