Lake Arpi

Lake Arpi (Armenian: Արփի լիճ) is located in the Shirak Province of Armenia, on the Ashotsk plateau in the northwestern part of the country. The lake sits at an altitude of 2,025 m with an area of 220 km2. It originates from a volcano tectonic earthquake.

Lake Arpi
Lake Arpi
LocationShirak, Armenia
Coordinates41°03′0″N 43°37′00″E
Primary outflowsAkhurian River
Basin countriesArmenia
Surface area220 km2 (85 sq mi)
Average depth1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Water volume0.1 km3 (0.024 cu mi)
Surface elevation2,025 m (6,644 ft)
Designated7 June 1993
Reference no.621[1]

In 1951, the Arpi dam was built to create the Lake Arpi reservoir and artificially increased the natural state of 4.5 km2, 1.6 m deep, and volume of 5 million cubic meters.[2] The reservoir's dam is 10 m high and 80 m long. The reservoir-lake spans 7.3 km long and 4.3 km wide, with an area of 20 km2, 8 m deep, and a volume of 30 million cubic meters.[3]

Lake Arpi has become the second most important body of water in Armenia, next to Lake Sevan. It is used for irrigation and hydropower production. The lake is fed by meltwater and four streams, and it is the source of the Akhurian River.

The lake has rich flora and fauna. It is a Ramsar Convention–protected site, and a national park was established around the lake in 2009. During the winter, it is completely covered by ice. In its waters are found Cyprinus and Varicorhinus. More than 100 species of birds have been observed around Lake Arpi,[4] which is why the area was recognized as an Important Bird Area.[5]

References
  1. "Lake Arpi". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. H․ M․ Ayvazyan and others, Nature of Armenia Encyclopedia, Yerevan, «Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing House», 2006, pg 146 — 692— 3500 each, ISBN 5-89700-029-8
  3. Hagopian T. K., Melik-Bakhshyan S. Fr., Barseghyan H., Armenia and Neighboring Regions Dictionary, Vol. 1 [A-C] (ed. Manukyan L. III), Yerevan, «Yerevan State University Publishing», 1986, pg 514 — 992
  4. "National Report On the Implementation of the Ramsar Convention On Wetlands: Armenia" (PDF). 2015.
  5. Armenian Bird Census Council. Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in Armenia. TSE NGO. Retrieved on 29 Oct 2017 from http://www.abcc-am.org/iba.html


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