Sevan Island ( ''Sevani kğzi''), now Sevan Peninsula ( ''Sevani t'erakğzi''), is a
former island
A former island is a mass of land that was once an island, but has been joined to a mainland, another island, or engulfed by a body of water. The process of joining might be the result of volcanic activity, moving tidal sands, or through land re ...
in the north-western part of
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan () is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater Alpine lake, high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of abov ...
in
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
. After the artificial draining of Lake Sevan, which started in the
Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...
era, the water level fell about 20 metres, and the island transformed into a
peninsula
A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula.
Etymology
The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...
. At the southern shore of this newly created peninsula, a guesthouse of the
Writers Union of Armenia
The Writers' Union of Armenia was founded in August 1934, simultaneously with the USSR Union of Writers and as a component part of the USSR Union.
1930s
The Constituent Assembly was held during 1 August - 5 August, after which the Armenian delega ...
was built. The eastern shore is occupied by the Armenian president's summer residence, while the monastery's still active
seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...
moved to newly constructed buildings at the northern shore of the peninsula.
Sevan Island is home to a ninth-century
Armenian Cathedral church, known as Sevanavank, which is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Armenia.
Gallery
Image:Sevanakmonasterys.jpg, The island and the monastery of Sevan during the 19th century (Paris, 1869, T. Deyrolle)
File:Sevan island 1937.jpg, Sevan Island in 1937
File:Sevan lake in Armenia 1974.jpg, 1974
File:Sevanavanq 01.jpg, 2012
File:Sevan peninsula 2017.jpg, 2017
Panorama
See also
*
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan () is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater Alpine lake, high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of abov ...
*
Sevanavank
Sevanavank (; meaning ''Sevan Monastery'') is a monastic complex located on a Sevan Island, peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, not far from the town of Sevan (city), Sevan. Initially the mon ...
References
*
*
Islands of Armenia
Landforms of Armenia
Geography of Gegharkunik Province
Peninsulas of Asia
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