Level of Lake Sevan is rising, minister says
03.05.2019,
13:57
The level of Lake Sevan is rising, Armenia’s Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakian said during a government meeting on May 2. He said from April 1 to July 1, the level of Lake Sevan will increase by 45 cm. “The process has already begun. We expect the level of the lake to rise one centimeter every two days," Tsolakyan said.
YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA/. The level of Lake Sevan is rising, Armenia’s Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakian said during a government meeting on May 2. He said from April 1 to July 1, the level of Lake Sevan will increase by 45 cm. “The process has already begun. We expect the level of the lake to rise one centimeter every two days," Tsolakyan said.
He said the expected increase in April did not happen because of the relatively low air temperatures in the region, but in May heavy rains and snow melt in the mountains are expected.
The minister also said that this time last year water had been already pumped from the lake for irrigation purposes, while this year no water has been pumped yet.
“We haven’t pumped water from the lake yet, because the level of water in the water reservoirs is quite high. I hope that there will be no irrigation problems this year,” said Tsolakyan.
Earlier this year, Felix Tsolakyan said that the level of Lake Sevan would 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.’
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 the expected increase in April did not happen because of the relatively low air temperatures in the region, but in May heavy rains and snow melt in the mountains are expected.
The minister also said that this time last year water had been already pumped from the lake for irrigation purposes, while this year no water has been pumped yet.
“We haven’t pumped water from the lake yet, because the level of water in the water reservoirs is quite high. I hope that there will be no irrigation problems this year,” said Tsolakyan.
Earlier this year, Felix Tsolakyan said that the level of Lake Sevan would 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.’
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--
