The largest and highest lake in the Transcaucasus, Sevan holds a special place in the heart of the land-locked Armenian nation. With its cool azure waters and fresh mountain air, it a popular place to which Armenians escape in the summer when the heat of Yerevan becomes oppressive. It is a popular holiday resort with numerous beaches, hotels, restaurants and sports facilities dotted around the lake. Lake Sevan is famous for its 'ishkan' trout and other freshwater fish.

In recent times Lake Sevan has shrunk due to the tapping of the Razdan river, used for hydroelectricity and irrigation. One result of this has been the uncovering of forts, houses and artefacts more than 2000 years old. Many of these are now in the Yerevan history museum.

Sevan monastery built in 874 on a small peninsula overlooking the lake, is a wonderful example of Armenian architecture and is especially picturesque. In the spring the mountainsides are covered in a carpet of wild flowers.

Lake Sevan is located 60km north-east of Yerevan and can be visited in a day trip from the capital opr can be used as a base for visiting the north of Armenia.