Sevan (Armenian: ????), is a town and popular resort in Armenia, located in the Gegharkunik Province on the northwestern shores of Lake Sevan. The town is located at a height of more than 1,925 metres (6,316 feet) above sea level, 65 km (40 mi) northeast of the capital Yerevan, and 35 km (22 mi) north of Gavar, the administrative centre of Gegharkunik Province.
The town is surrounded by Sevan National Park, which extend from the northeastern parts of the town to the southwest, while Lake Sevan forms the natural border of the city to the east.
As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 19,229. However, as per the 2016 official estimate, the population of Sevan is 19,200.
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Etymology
Sevan was founded as Yelenovka (Armenian: ????????, Russian: ????????) in 1842 to become a Russian-populated village. It was named after Yelena Pavlovna the daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia.
The town was known as Yelenovka until 1935 when it was renamed Sevan after the Lake Sevan.
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History
After the establishment of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia, the territory of modern-day Sevan was included within the Mazaz and Varazhnunik cantons at the east of the historic Ayrarat province of Armenia Major.
The settlement was founded as Yelenovka in 1842 by exiled members of Russian religious factions. The settlement remained a Russian-populated village until the end of the 19th century.
In 1935, the nearby villages of Tsamakaberd and Gomadzor were included within Yelenovka and the town was renamed Sevan after the nearby lake. In 1967, Sevan was granted the status of a town of republican subordination.
The Sevan peninsula, which is located 3 kilometres (2 miles) east of the town is home to one of the most notable samples of medieval Armenian architecture, the Sevanavank Monastery of the 9th century. The monastery was mainly intended for monks from Echmiadzin who had sinned. Currently, the monastery consists of two churches: Surp Arakelots (Holy Apostles) and Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). The monastery is famous for its variety of the medieval Armenian Khachkars (cross-stones). Initially the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island. After the artificial draining of Lake Sevan during the period of Joseph Stalin's rule, the water level fell about 20 meters, and the island was transformed into a peninsula.
The other notable religious structure on the peninsula is the Vaskenian Theological Academy of Sevan, opened in 2004.
The cyclopean fortress of Metsep dating back to the 3rd millennium BC stands just north of Sevan. Another cyclopean fortress known as Mashtotsner is located in the Tsamakaberd neighborhood..
Geography and climate
Located on the northwestern shores of Lake Sevan, the town Sevan is mainly dominated by the mountains of Pambak from the north and Gegham from the west.
Sevan National Park
Sevan National Park was founded in 1978 to protect the Lake Sevan and the surrounding regions, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Nature Protection, managed as a research centre, monitoring the ecosystems and undertakes various conservation measures. Licensed fishing around the lake is also regulated.
The national reserve occupies major territories around the Lake Sevan, extended from the northeastern parts of the town to the southwest. The area comprises 1,501 square kilometres (580 sq mi), of which 24,900 hectares (61,529 acres) are lakeside lands. It is surrounded with the slopes of mountain chains of Areguni, Geghama, Vardenis, Pambak and Sevan. Some 1600 plant and 330 animal species are found here. The park is divided into 3 zones: national reserve, recreation zone and economic use zone.
The basin of Lake Sevan is a crossroad for mesophile and Armenian-Iranian xerophile flora belts.
However, scientific researches about the mammals of the Sevan basin are quite poor. Wolf, jackal, fox, marten and cat, are usually found in the national reserve.
Sevan Botanical Garden
The Sevan Botanical Garden covering an area of 5 hectares, is located at a height of 2000 meters above sea level and is home to more than 650 local, North American Asian and European species. It is operating since 1944 as a satellite of the Yerevan Botanical Garden under the supervision of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
Climate
The climate of Sevan is characterized by short mild summers and long, cold, and snowy winters. Despite its southern location, due to elevation and continentality, climate of Sevan is similar to Eastern Finland.
Demographics
The 2011 census of 2001 showed a significant decline in the population of Sevan, which went down from 27,000 reported in the 1989 census to 19,229.
The majority of the Sevan population are involved in agricultural activities, fish-hunting and tourism services, especially during the summer season.
Here is the population timeline of Sevan since 1873:
The nearby village of Gagarin with a population of 1,379, is part of the municipality of Sevan.
Religion
The majority of the population of Sevan belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church of the Holy Archangels is the main church of the town. It was consecrated on 31 May 2015. The town also has a Jewish community, and the only town in Armenia with a Synagogue outside of Yerevan.
Culture
The town is home to cultural palace and many public libraries. Sevan is also home to geological museum that operates on the basis of the Sevan Botanical Garden.
The summer presidential residence of the Republic of Armenia is located at the Sevan Peninsula.
Sevan is home to 2 regional TV stations: "Sevan TV" (STV 1) operating since 1999, and "Geghama TV" operating since 2010.
Transportation
Sevan is located on the M-4 Motorway that connects the capital Yerevan eastern and northeastern Armenia.
The town has also a train station that connects the town with Yerevan through railway.
Economy
Industry
Under the Soviet rule, the industrial sector of Sevan has been developed since the 1940s with several plants specialized in the production of building materials.
Currently, the town is home to the beer manufacturers Lihnitis Sevan Brewerey LLC. The factory produces a variety of lager beer under the brand Kellers.
Sevan is also home to the Sevan bread and bakery factory operating since 1947, as well as the Sevan Sugar Plant founded in 2003. The "Yerknain Manana" confectionery plant and the "Tuff-Granite" mining plant are also based in Sevan.
Tourism and services
During the brief summer of the region, Sevan tuns into a popular beach resort. Many professionals and amateurs visit the city to practice their favourite types of sports on the shores including beach soccer, beach volleyball, windsurfing and other types of water sports through numerous swimming beaches and facilities along the entire Sevan shore, such as the water park, the horse-riding club, the tennis courts, the mini football and basketball fields, etc. The Harsnaqar Hotel Complex, the Best Western Bohemian Resort, the Akhtamar Sevan Hotel and the Lavanda City cottages are among the leading resorts of the town.
In February 2011, the Sevan ropeway was opened at the north of the town, in the area known as "mashtotsner", on the way to Tsovagyugh village. It has a length of 1,130 meters.
Sevan is among the 3 towns of Armenia that are allowed to accommodate gambling houses and activities in urban settlements (along with Tsaghkadzor and Jermuk).
The Sevan National Park and Sevan Botanical Garden are major destinations for the lovers of ecotourism.
Sevan has a general hospital as well as a psychiatric hospital.
Education
As of 2016, the town is home to 7 public education schools and 4 kindergartens. The Physics Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia has a branch in Sevan.
The Vaskenian Theological Academy of Sevan re-established in 1990, is among the prominent theological institutions of the South Caucasus.
Sport
Between 1990 and 1994, the Akhtamar Sevan football club had represented the town in the domestic competitions. However, it became defunct due to financial difficulties.
Other popular sports in Sevan include beach soccer, beach volleyball and windsurfing.
A large sports complex as well as a football academy are being constructed in the town.
International relations
Twin towns - Sister cities
Sevan is twinned with:
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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