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Armenia is a country rich in endemic species. Endemics are animal and plant species whose representatives are widespread in a specific area. Armenia is home to 339 endemic animals, 316 of which are invertebrates. Of the total number of animal species in Armenia, 7% are endemic. The most famous Armenian endemic is, of course, the Sevan trout (ishkhan). Another inhabitant of Lake Sevan is the Armenian gull, or Sevan herring gull (Larus armenicus), which forms a distinct species. The Armenian gull is considered endemic.
Among the larger gull species, this gull is relatively small and graceful, with a short bill and a round-headed silhouette. The Armenian Gull has silvery-gray wings and yellow to orange-yellow legs (brighter than the Mediterranean Gull). The eyes are dark, with irises that range from yellowish to brown. Adults have a red spot at the tip of their yellow bill and a black ring that encircles the entire tip. These two characteristics are the most distinctive, as the Armenian Gull was once classified as a subspecies of the Herring Gull, but was later recognized as a distinct species.
Seagulls nest near mountain lakes in Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and western Iran. The largest populations in Armenia are found in the Lake Sevan basin.
Lake Sevan is one of the largest lakes in the Caucasus. It is also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. It is located in the mountains of Armenia, at an altitude of just over 1,900 meters above sea level. Since there is no sea in Armenia, locals call Sevan a sea, even though its water is fresh, not salty.
The area around the Sevan basin is a unique nature reserve. The average depth of Lake Sevan is 26.8 meters, and its deepest point is 79.8 meters. Sevan covers an area of 1,240 square meters. Only one river, the Hrazdan, flows out of the lake, while 28 rivers flow into it.
In 1978, the lake was designated a National Park to protect its flora and fauna, water resources, and the entire ecosystem. Sevan National Park includes several protected areas with strict conservation measures, including the nesting site of the herring gull.
The largest colony of gulls lives on “Gull Island,” located in the Norashen Nature Reserve of Sevan National Park. The colony of Armenian gulls nesting on the island constitutes a significant portion of the gull population in Lake Sevan. The Norashen Nature Reserve is located near the village of Norashen, on the left side of the road leading from Sevan to Gavar. The island can be reached by booking a two-hour boat ride on Lake Sevan.
July and August are the perfect time to take a tour to Lake Sevan to dive into its cool waters, try local trout shashlik, and watch the flight of the lake’s mistress.