Lake Sevan Part II

The Flora and Fauna of Lake Sevan

While many people focus Armenia's location at the crossroads of European, Turkish, Arab, and Russian cultures, natural scientists are far more interested in how Armenia's location has been influenced by neighboring ecosystems. And since Lake Sevan is one of the single largest and most influential natural bodies in Armenia, it is a great starting point to investigate this natural overlapping.

The first thing scientists realized about the Lake Sevan area is the different natural zones. One can find characteristics of deciduous forests, alpine meadows, semi-arid steppe, and now because of the Soviet plan for Lake Sevan, artificial evergreen forests.ⁱ These various ecosystems have led many species of animals and plants to develop and thrive in the Sevan basin. Approximately 1,600 or one half of all the plant species in Armenia can be found near the lake. The Red Data Book of Armenia published in 1988 (The Soviet version of endangered and threatened species lists) includes 386 species of plants, 48 of which can be found in the Sevan basin.ⁱⁱ Also, the Sevan basin includes six native species of plants that evolved there and are considered endemic.ⁱⁱⁱ

In the lake itself, six species of fish have been identified. Two of these species have been listed in the Red Book. One of these species, the ishkhan can be found on the ragged edge of extinction. Unfortunately for the biodiversity of Lake Sevan, ishkhan trout is considered a delicacy in most Armenian house holds and commercial and personal fishing continues.

Armenian Gull
ArmeniaBirding.info

While many plants can be found surrounding the lake, and various types of native fish, birds are the highlight of Lake Sevan. Bird-watching in Armenia is slowly beginning to catch the eyes of international birders and is considered by many to be one of the last diamond in the rough birding locales that is accessible to enthusiasts of all levels. BirdLife International has designated five locations in Armenia as “Important Bird Areas,” one of which is Lake Sevan.^iv Because Armenia lies in the migratory path of many European and Russian birds, 350 species of birds have been identified in Armenia, 210 of which can be found in the Sevan area.^v Before the drainage of the lake, Sevan was considered to be the greatest inland breeding area for water birds between the Caspian and Black Seas, although now the breeding capacity is greatly diminished.^vi