Lake Arpi, Armenia
Lake Arpi is a lake located in the northwestern part of Armenia, in the Shirak Province, near the border with Georgia and Turkey.
Lake Arpi Stats
| Lake Name | Lake Arpi |
| Country | Armenia |
| Surface area | 14.760 |
| Average depth | 5.7 |
| Lake type | Saline, natural |
| Catchment area | 223.80 |
| Altitude | 2022.0 |
| Volume | 0.084 |
| Outflows | Akhurian River |
| Shore length | 19.09 |
| Residence time | 1055.6 |
| Average discharge | 0.920 |
Geography and Surroundings
The lake is the second largest in Armenia after Lake Sevan and is a Ramsar wetland, which was established on July 6th, 1993. The Lake Arpi National Park was established around the lake in 2009 in order to protect the area’s unique biodiversity.
The lake sits at an altitude of 2,023 meters, and has a surface area of 22 square kilometers. It is mainly used for hydroelectric power production and irrigation. The lake, which is fed by 4 streams and meltwater, is the source of the spectacular Akhurian River, 186 kilometers in length.
The area around the lake is surrounded by mountain steppes, subalpine and alpine meadows, other smaller lakes and wetlands, and is very rich in flora and fauna. More than 100 species of birds have been observed here, among which the Armenian Gull, the Dalmatian Pelican, hawks, etc.
Activities
Main recreational activities in and around the lake include sport fishing, bird watching, botanical tours, horse riding, camping, walking, etc.