Level of Lake Sevan to rise by 45 centimeters
04.04.2019,
16:47
Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakyan said today that the level of Lake Sevan will increase by 45 cm by the beginning of the irrigation season that starts in June.
YEREVAN, April 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakyan said today that the level of Lake Sevan will increase by 45 cm by the beginning of the irrigation season that starts in June. He said also the Arpa-Sevan tunnel has been reopened on April 3.
He said 1 cm rise is the equivalent of 12 million cubic meters of water and by that time ‘we will have additionally about 570 million cubic meters of water.’
According to him, by the end of the year the water level in the lake will be 5-10 cm higher than last year. "At the moment, the water level in Sevan is 7 cm lower compared to last year, but this is a normal because in 2018 it was warmer and the ice melted earlier filling the lake," said Tsolakyan, noting that with warming the situation will return to normal course.
The 48.3 km-long Arpa-Sevan tunnel is supplying Lake Sevan with waters of Arpa and Yeghegis rivers. Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is also one of the largest fresh water high-altitude lakes in Eurasia .
The Lake is situated in Gegharkunik province at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. Its’ basin’s total surface area is about 5,000 km2 , which makes up 1⁄6 of Armenia's territory. The lake itself is 1,242 km2 . It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Its only island (now a peninsula) is home to a medieval monastery. -0-
He said 1 cm rise is the equivalent of 12 million cubic meters of water and by that time ‘we will have additionally about 570 million cubic meters of water.’
According to him, by the end of the year the water level in the lake will be 5-10 cm higher than last year. "At the moment, the water level in Sevan is 7 cm lower compared to last year, but this is a normal because in 2018 it was warmer and the ice melted earlier filling the lake," said Tsolakyan, noting that with warming the situation will return to normal course.
The 48.3 km-long Arpa-Sevan tunnel is supplying Lake Sevan with waters of Arpa and Yeghegis rivers. Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is also one of the largest fresh water high-altitude lakes in Eurasia .
The Lake is situated in Gegharkunik province at an altitude of 1,900 m above sea level. Its’ basin’s total surface area is about 5,000 km2 , which makes up 1⁄6 of Armenia's territory. The lake itself is 1,242 km2 . It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Its only island (now a peninsula) is home to a medieval monastery. -0-
