Armenian lake Sevan level reaches 1900.13 meters in January

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Water level in Armenian Lake Sevan reaches 1900 meters and 13 centimeters as of January 1, 2012 ,that is equal to the indicator of 1963, said Vladimir Movsisyan, Presidential Committee on Lake Sevan Issues chairman.

“This is a very serious accomplishment, and I think that this process needs to be continued,” said Movsisyan after a regular Committee session on Friday Water level in Lake Sevan was expected to raise by 216 cm according to the laws “On Lake Sevan” and “Confirming annual and complex program of events to restore, preserve, reproduce and exploit Lake Sevan ecosystem”, that were adopted in 2001. 

However, today the lake level rise reached 380 cm. “Thus, we outpaced the plan, authorized by the law for 7.5 years,” he underscored. Movsisyan also said that the Committee also progressed in reducing pumping out lake waters for irrigational purposes. 

According to legislature, water withdrawals from Sevan account to 170 million cubic meters, however for the last 10 years water pumping out reached in average 158 million cubic meters with a maximum indicator of 305 million cubic meters in 2008. 

“For the last 10 years water level in Lake Sevan has been raising, in other words, there was no fall recorded compared to a year earlier,” Movsisyan said. 

Lake Sevan is one of the largest mountainous lakes in Europe and Asia located in the Armenian highland with a height of 1,914 meters. Sevan attracts tourists with its beauty and is famous for its fish, particularly, trout, that is called “ishkhan”(which means “prince”) by Armenians.

The lake stretches from north-west to south-east more than 70 kilometres. Its area of water table reaches 1,500 square meters. It is the main resource of drinking water in the region. By 2030 the lake level will be increased to optimal 1,903.5 m. Lake water level reached 1,899,23m as of December 31, 2009, and 1,900,4 m- in 2010. -0-