Lake Arpi

Lake Arpi is located in northwestern Armenia in the Shirak Province on the Ashotsk Plateau, at about 2,025 meters above sea level. Originally a small natural lake formed by tectonic forces, it was significantly enlarged in the 1940s–1950s by the construction of a dam. Today, it is an important water reservoir that forms the source of the Akhurian River and supports irrigation and energy production. Lake Arpi and its surroundings are part of a national park rich in flora and fauna, including over 140 bird species and the world’s largest colony of the Armenian gull. It is also protected as a Ramsar wetland.