Gegharkunik Province
Gegharkunik centers on Lake Sevan, the Caucasus' largest lake, whose Soviet-era depletion (20m drop) and partial restoration illustrate high-altitude ecosystem fragility.
Gegharkunik Province centers on Lake Sevan, the largest freshwater lake in the Caucasus and historically one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. At 1,900 meters elevation, Sevan's watershed encompasses most of the province, making the lake's health synonymous with regional wellbeing. Soviet-era water extraction for irrigation and hydropower dropped the water level by 20 meters, triggering ecosystem collapse—the endemic Sevan trout nearly vanished. Restoration efforts since 1981 have partially reversed the decline, demonstrating both the fragility and potential resilience of high-altitude aquatic systems.
The province faces territorial stress from its border with Azerbaijan. Since May 2021, Azerbaijani forces have occupied positions within Gegharkunik's sovereign territory, overlooking roads connecting central Armenia. This creates ecological stress in human geography—populations near contested borders experience chronic anxiety about territorial integrity, affecting settlement patterns and investment decisions.