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| Armenia is the only landlocked country in Transcaucasia. The republic contains many mountain lakes, the largest of which is Lake Sevan, located in the northeast. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Transcaucasia and one of the largest high-elevation lakes in the world. It is also a popular resort area. In the early 1990s the lake’s wildlife habitat was threatened, as large amounts of water were being taken from Lake Sevan to supply hydroelectric plants. A tunnel was constructed to bring water from the Arpa River into the lake in order to maintain a constant water level. Although many rivers flow into Lake Sevan, the main outlet is the Hrazdan River, which flows south to join the Aras (known in Armenia as the Arax) River, Armenia’s largest and longest river. The Aras originates in the mountains of northeastern Turkey and flows generally eastward, following Armenia’s border with Turkey and then Iran, until it turns north to join the Kura River in Azerbaijan. Armenia contains a dense network of small rivers and streams that are part of the Aras-Kura river basin. Due to the mountainous terrain, waterfalls and rapids are common.Sevan, Lake, large alpine lake on the Armenian Highland, the largest lake in Armenia. It has an elevation of 1900 m (6200 ft) and an area of 1244 sq km (480 sq mi). The lake's greatest depth, located in the northeast section of the lake, is about 83 m (about 272 ft) deep. Numerous tributaries flow into the lake, principally from the south and southeast, but its only outlet is the Hrazdan River.A project was started in the 1930s to divert almost all of Lake Sevan's waters to the Hrazdan for irrigation and to generate hydroelectric power. By the end of the 1950s a series of power stations had been built on the river, and nearly a third of the lake's water had been drained. The project was abandoned, however, due to unanticipated environmental problems and the availability of new sources of energy from neighboring republics.A new water management project, developed in 1960, envisioned the stabilization of Lake Sevan's water levels by restricting water use to extreme cases and by constructing a tunnel to divert part of the Akhuryan River to the lake. After 18 years of construction (1963-80) the tunnel, measuring 48 km (about 30 mi), was completed, and the lake's level began to stabilize. From 1981, when the tunnel started operation, to 1986, the lake's level increased slightly. The tunnel was closed for repairs in 1986.Sevan, Lake, large alpine lake on the Armenian Highland, the largest lake in Armenia. It has an elevation of 1900 m (6200 ft) and an area of 1244 sq km (480 sq mi). The lake's greatest depth, located in the northeast section of the lake, is about 83 m (about 272 ft) deep. Numerous tributaries flow into the lake, principally from the south and southeast, but its only outlet is the Hrazdan River. |
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A project was started in the 1930s to divert almost all of Lake Sevan's waters to the Hrazdan for irrigation and to generate hydroelectric power. By the end of the 1950s a series of power stations had been built on the river, and nearly a third of the lake's water had been drained. The project was abandoned, however, due to unanticipated environmental problems and the availability of new sources of energy from neighboring republics. |
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A new water management project, developed in 1960, envisioned the stabilization of Lake Sevan's water levels by restricting water use to extreme cases and by constructing a tunnel to divert part of the Akhuryan River to the lake. After 18 years of construction (1963-80) the tunnel, measuring 48 km (about 30 mi), was completed, and the lake's level began to stabilize. From 1981, when the tunnel started operation, to 1986, the lake's level increased slightly. The tunnel was closed for repairs in 1986.
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