Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by Bronze Age castles and Urartian period inscriptions found in the area. While Armenia has no sea, Lake Sevan has sometimes been referred to as the "Armenian Sea" or "Sea of Gegham." The word "Sevan" likely comes from the Urartian word for lake. Lake Sevan has a volcanic origin and is fed by 30 rivers, though it has only one outflowing river. The best time to visit and swim in Lake Sevan is July and August.
2. Lake Sevan History
Lake Sevan is believed to have a
tectonic origin. The territory of the
Lake was inhabited since ancient times.
The proof for that is Bronze age
castles (Lchashen, Hayravank), Urartian
period inscriptions (Velikukhi, Rusa II),
medieval constructions (Sevanavank,
Hayravank Monastery, etc.) and so on.
3. Lake Sevan VS Sea Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest water
body in Armenia. Armenia has no
sea, so sometimes people call the
Sevan Armenian sea. Since ancient
times Lake Sevan was mostly called
a sea and was known as the Sea of
Gegham.
4. Sevan Meaning
There is an opinion that the word
Sevan came from the Urartian word
su(i)n(i)a, meaning "lake". Other
scholars think that Sevan is a mix of
the words sev (meaning "black" in
Armenian) and Van (meaning Lake Van)
or sev ("black") and vank’
("monastery").
5. Lake Sevan facts
1. Blue-Eyed Beauty
Lake Sevan is called Blue-Eyed Beauty as looking at the map you will
see this beauty.
2. Volcanic origin
Lake Sevan has a volcanic origin.
3. 30 rivers pour into Lake Sevan
Also, there is only one river (River Hrazdan) that flows out from it.
4. Visit Lake Sevan in July and August
The best time to visit Lake Sevan and swim are July and August.
5. Free Beaches near Lake Sevan
There are many public beaches near Lake Sevan which are free and
clean.
6. Lake Sevan public beaches
You can find nearly eleven public beaches
near Lake Sevan, which are free for
everyone. Some of these public beaches
even offer free-of-charge services such
as lounge chairs and umbrellas, medical
aid, ports and playing grounds with
rescue services. Besides that, the public
beaches are too clean and comfortable.
8. Lake Sevan fish
The best-known type of Sevan fish is
Sevan trout, but now it is endangered.
The reason for that is whitefish,
goldfish and crayfish, which people
raise in the lake. Unfortunately, the
Sevan trout are becoming extinct in
its own "land" lake Sea.
9. Distance from Yerevan to lake Sevan
It is 57 km from Yerevan to
Sevan and if you want to go to
Lake Sevan by car it will take
you nearly an hour to reach
there. If you have a fast
driver, then you will get to
Sevan much earlier.
10. Lake Sevan Monastery: Sevanavank
Lake Sevan monastery known as
Sevanavank is a monastic complex
built in 874 by Princess Mariam,
who was the daughter of the king
Ashot. The architecture of the
church with the Lake Sevan as a
background will take your breath
away.