Lake Sevan
Is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world at 1,900m above sea level and the largest lake in the Caucasus, at 16% of the area of Armenia. In the 1920s the Soviets built a hydo-electric dam, to use the water for irrigation, it lost early 40% of its volume and dropped 20m in depth and dramatically changed the landscape of the lake, including the development of algae bloom in the water.
Sevanavank, on a peninsula of Lake Sevan, was originally an island monastery. Founded in 874 by Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I, it was a place of penance for errant monks and comprises of two churches, some 250 steps to the top, I only managed halfway! On the lakeside, we saw a lamborghini shaped motorboat, very strange!
Garni
A Pagan Temple, dedicated to the God of Light and Sun, Mithra, built around the year 77, by the Armenian king Trdat I, but when the country converted to Christianity, the King at the time liked the Temple so it was converted to his Summer Palace.
It is built of gray basalt, standing on 24 pillars, symbolizing the 24 hours of the day. There are ruins of Roman baths, containing a mosaic made of natural stones in 15 colors, remnants of a royal summer house and a 7th century church. The temple was restored in the late 1960s using as much of the original stonework as possible.
Gerhard Monastery
Founded in the early 4th century. It was originally called Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The name Geghard (Spear) came in the 13th century as the Holy Lance was kept there — the spear that pierced Christ. The monastery’s oldest building is a semi-cave chapel from the 12th century. In the 13th century they built the main church (Katoghike), an adjoining anti-chamber, two cave churches, a tomb, and monks’ cells were built. Our tour included the crypt, a chamber where a natural spring flowed and the music academy with its amazing acoustics.
The complex was repeatedly damaged and restored, both from invasions and earthquakes. It underwent major renovations in the 1900s.
It was built opposite the Azzat Gorge which contains hexagonal stones which line the gorge, referred to as The Symphony of Stone, not dissimilar to the Gaints Causeway in Northern Ireland.