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Water Resources
Rivers A huge underground lake lies below the Ararat Valley. The Valley was recorded as early as the Assyrian Period as being a rich, forested marshland, with cultivated lakes. The Kasakh (89 km), Hrazdan (146 km), Azat (56 km) and Vedi (58 km) Rivers run West to East and North to South in the Ararat Valley, feeding numerous irrigation canal systems as they flow from mountain sources into the Arax river (158 km), which forms the southwestern border with Turkey.
In Vayots Dzor the Darb (20 km), Yeghegis (54 km) and Arpa (90 km) Rivers continually feed the low lands as do thousands more natural springs.
The Vorotan (119 km), Voghji (56 km) and Meghri (32 km) Rivers run through Siunik, with the Vorotan flowing East to the Hagari River in Azerbaijan where it joins the Arax. The Meghri River flows from the Meghri Mountain Range south into the Arax River by Meghri town.
In Shirak District the Akhurian River begins at the Arpilich Reservoir in Armenia s Siberia and flows for 210 kilometers before joining the Arax River by the village of Bagaran in Armavir District. The Mantash River (90 km) flows from South to North East into the Akhurian, feeding the Shirak Canal system with the Akhurian.
The second largest river system in the country lies in Lori and Tavoush Districts. In Lori the Dzoraget (57 km) joins the Pambak (86 km) River to form the source of the Debed (152 km), which flows into Georgia. The smaller rivers of the Chichkan (65 km), Urut (25 km) and the Marts (25 km) feed the Lori River system. In Tavoush the Koghb (25 km), Joghaz (57 km), Aksipara (21 km), Sarnajur (23 km), Spitakjur (10 km) Urtijur (19 km) all feed into the Aghstev (99 km) which runs to the Kur River in Azerbaijan (the Kur eventually joining the Arax). Other rivers in Lori feeding the Kur are the Hakhum (45 km), Tavush (43 km) and the Khndzorut (65 km).
Sevan Lake is fed by 28 rivers, including the Masrik (43 km), Boydara (16 km), Vardenis (28 km), the Argichi (51 km) fed by the Karadzi (22 km), the Martuni (12 km), Tzakkar (23 km) and the Kukudzor (11 km) joining the Gegharkunik (51 km). In turn the Sevan is the source of the Hrazdan River, which flows through Kotaik District into the Ararat Valley. The Marmarik River in Northwest Kotaik joins the Hrazdan River east of the Tzaghkadzor Forest and Resort area.
There are countless mountain streams that feed this extensive river system which runs in virtually all directions as they deliver melting snows, spring and rain water into the valleys and mountain plateaus. Several rivers have been diverted into lakes and reservoirs, which form the bulk of the irrigation and drinking water for the country. Like so much else in the former Soviet Union, mismanagement of natural resources, rather than their amounts, has threatened the ecological system as well as the economic expansion for the new republic. Lakes, Reservoirs Ailing as it is, Lake Sevan is still a spectacular marine system, holding some of the purest water in the world. A unique high altitude marshland lies on the Southern shores, a rare home to Storks and water fowl little seen at this altitude. The lake is home to the endangered Ishkhan (Armenian trout) and Sig fish, as well as seagulls, gray ducks and several species of eagles. Another endangerd visitor to the lake is the Armenian leopard or panther (panthera pardus tullianus).
Aside from Lake Sevan, there are only a handful of natural lakes in the country, among them Karilich and Lake Lessing on Mt. Aragats; Aygehr in the Ararat Ravine; Lake Kaputan in the Zangezour Mountain Range; Lake Akna on the Geghama Lehr east of Abovian; and Lake Parz northeast of Dilijan. By comparison , while Lake Sevan has 1256 sq. kilometers of water surface, there is only one square kilometer of water surface from ALL the primary natural lakes in Armenia.
Reservoirs make up the second largest water surface in the country, the source of irrigation and drinking water, and also a source of ecological strain. The Akhurian, straddling the Turkish and Armenian borders and Kars River on the Turkish side feed the Akhurian Reservoir, which lies east of the town of Maralik. The reservoir is heavily used, and water tables drop precipitously by mid summer. Much of this was due to irrigation methods that used huge sprinkling systems, in which 70% of the moisture is evaporated before it reaches plant roots.
Other reservoirs include the Spandarian, Angeghakot, Tolors and Shamb Reservoirs in Siunik (Sissian District), developed to promote wheat production in the area, and to divert water to support Lake Sevan. Others are the Kechut (Vayots Dzor), Azat (Ararat District), Aparan (Kotaik), Mantash, Kaghnu and Arpi (Shirak). Thermal and Mineral Springs Thermal springs lie throughout the country, but Siunik and Vayots Dzor are home to the most popular (and the warmest recorded) springs. The most famous is perhaps Jermuk, with naturally carbonated sulfur thermal springs (37-42? C/99-108? F). Other springs at Jermuk include a calcium-sulfur cold water spring (4-20? C/39-68? F), and purified spring-fed thermal Jacuzzi's and baths (20-37? C/68-99?F). Hankavan has several natural mineral springs in the area, the warmest at the Hankavan Spa (20-37?C/68-99? F), which is currently closed. Not to worry, as the springs run off into the Marmarik River, and locals regularly gather for a quick soak. Another popular warm water spring spa is located at Arzni, just north of Yerevan. The waters and newly privatized spas are working. There are countless other thermal and cold water springs, most known only to the local villagers. It's well worth asking, since you may just stumble across a natural treasure. If you find one off the beaten path, relax and soak a while you will be undisturbed, often completely alone in stunning wilderness areas. Click here for a list of Armenia's Thermal And Mineral Springs. Soaking Etiquette Carbonated sulfur water is surprisingly strong, and one should never soak more than 5-10 minutes at a time, especially if it is hot. This goes for 'professional soakers' and neophytes alike. The revitalizing affect will be most immediately felt on your pulse, so monitor it as you soak. The skin tingles, and if you are allergic to sulfur, you can get a rash. Calcium carbonated water (the stuff they put in sodas to make it fizz), tingles as well, and can raise your pulse if you stay too long in the water. Best to "dunk and drip", that is, spend just a few minutes in, then twice as long out, especially if you haven't tried natural spas before. Along the roadside you will find hundreds of carved stones, almost all an outlet for natural drinking water. The stones are carved as memorials to commemorate a loved one, an historic event, even an engineer who worked on the road. Almost all have designs borrowed from the khachkar tradition, with beautiful details and flourishes. The water is safe to drink, though if enough mouths have sucked on the pipe, you may want to wait a few seconds before taking a sip.
Images (photos
by Tigran Nazarian) Weather Forecasts
INDIVIDUAL REPORTS
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![[waterfall]"](storypage/storyimages/uploaded3waterfall.jpg)
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