Gegharqunik
Gegharqunik Province
The Province of Gegharqunik is unique: ¼ of the territory of its is occupied by Lake Sevan - the largest pool of fresh water in the Southern Caucasus.
Enjoy the fresh cold water, the beautiful sunsets with a skyline of rugged mountains, the seafood assortment and the boat ride and surfing at an altitude of 2000m.
Geographical Position
Gegharqunik is one of the eastern provinces of the Republic of Armenia. The largest province of Armenia, it borders Azerbaijan in the east, the Kotayk and Ararat provinces in the west and the Vayots Dzor Province in the south.
The major cities in the Gegharqunik Province are
- Gavar
- Martuni
- Sevan
- Vardenis
General Description
The center of Gegharqunik Province is Gavar, which is 98 km from Yerevan. The Gegharqunik Province is 2000-3500m above sea level, so it has long and severe winters. The country is austere, with mostly bare mountains, but around Lake Sevan, especially in the south, there are pine and fir tree forests.
The Sevan National Park
The landmark of the province is the Sevan National Park, which is home to more than 1600 plant and 330 animal species. Lake Sevan attracts visitors by its beaches and water sports facilities, as well as nature. Lake Sevan is about 1898 m above sea level. It is the biggest lake in the Caucasus. The overall surface area of the basin is about 5000 square kilometers. Lake Sevan is fed by 28 rivers and streams.
What to Do and See in Gegharqunik
Exploring the Gegharqunik Province is easy. There is an interstate highway going around Lake Sevan, from which, at a few places, the instate roads go up to Lake Sevan. Go on the highway and the instate roads and you can see lots of ancient and medieval monuments, some beautiful nature, and of course make stops to relax at the beaches.
The Peninsula
The most popular site around the lake is the Sevan Peninsula. It is a ten-minute drive from the city Sevan to the peninsula. Near to the peninsula, there are lots of beaches, motels, restaurants, and there are always a lot of water activities going on. There is the Sevanavank Monastery at the top of the peninsula from where you can see the view of Lake Sevan stretching for kilometers before you and of seagulls hovering above. And at night enjoy disco right at the shore.
The Resorts and Beaches
To enjoy swimming in Lake Sevan you can choose to stay at the hotels along the northern shores, where many choices of hotels and beaches of varying prices are available. Another option is to go to the south, where there are fewer hotels, but where you can enjoy camping out in the forested areas along the shore.
The Historical Sites
Lake Sevan is surrounded by numerous churches. Some of the most famous ones are
- Hayravanq Church
- Maqenis Monastery
- Vanevan Monastery
- Sevan Peninsula Monastery
Urartian and post Urartian castles and settlements, rock drawings and other architectural or historical relics have been discovered in Gegharqunik. The Archeological dig of Lchashen is of unique importance. It has a history of about 5000 years. Many gold items have been found in the Lchashen tombs.
Transportation
Gegharqunik is well-connected with an extensive highway and a road network, and there is public transportation commuting between Yerevan and each of the 5 cities of the province with at least one minibus running per day, per city. In Yerevan, you can take a bus at the Northern Bus Station going to the city Gavar and a bus at the Isahakyan Bus Station going to the city Sevan.
