LAKE SEVAN, ARMENIA

Подробнее о видео

9th Sept 2022
The single largest inland body of water in the entire Caucasus area, Lake Sevan is one of the highest alpine lakes in the region at 6,235 ft above sea level. Covering 480 square miles, the massive lake — surrounded by beaches and just south of the northern mountain peaks — the productive, picturesque lake supplies 90% of all the fish in Armenia. In landlocked Armenia, Lake Sevan holds a special place in the hearts of locals and hosts the only beaches in the country. The most popular beach is a stretch on the northern shore that extends for more than a mile and a half. Sevan peninsula, formerly Sevan Island before being drained during the Soviet era, hosts the Armenian president’s summer residence on the eastern shore.

SEVANAVANK Monastery _artificial draining of the lake transformed the island into a peninsula. Today visitors can easily walk to visit Sevanavank’s churches, as well as explore a lovely hiking trail behind the monastery.

The two churches of the complex, Surp Arakelots meaning the "Holy Apostles" and Surp Astvatsatsin meaning the "Holy Mother of God", are both cruciform plan structures with octagonal tambours. The two are quite similar to each other in appearance. Adjacent are the ruins of a gavit whose roof was originally supported by six wooden columns.

A gavit (Armenian գավիթ) or zhamatun (Armenian: ժամատուն) is often contiguous to the west of a church in a Medieval Armenian monastery. It served as narthex (entrance to the church), mausoleum and assembly room