Lake Arpi National Park, National park and Ramsar wetland site in Shirak Province, Armenia.
Lake Arpi National Park is a protected wetland site in Shirak Province covering about 20 square kilometers at roughly 2,025 meters elevation. Reed beds and marshy zones form its core, while meadows and steppe vegetation create transitional borders around the entire area.
The lake grew significantly after construction of the Arpi Dam between 1946 and 1950, which transformed its size and character. This engineering project created the water body that exists today as a major wetland site.
Local communities maintain fishing traditions that have shaped life around this wetland for generations. The four distinct water sections create different zones where people interact with the landscape in their daily practices.
Visitor centers in the nearby communities of Ghazanchi and Mets Sepasar provide information and orientation when arriving. Designated camping areas are available throughout the park for those planning an overnight stay.
The park hosts the world's largest breeding colony of Armenian Gulls, with thousands of nesting pairs that gather here each season. This gull population represents a remarkable concentration that makes the site globally important for bird conservation.
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