Mets Lchasar (2393.8m)

Skiing trail description
Mets Lchasar is located in the basin of Lake Sevan in the vicinity of Lchashen village of Gegharkunik province, and next to it is located Small Lchasar (2334.2 m). Thus, these mountains divided Gegharkunik and Kotayk into different regions. Here are the trails of Hatis (2529 m) and Gutanasar. The ski mountaineering peak starts from here in winter months by getting out of the Lchashen village. The rise to Mets Lchasar begins and last to the nearest area of Lake Sevan, where the winter fabulous scenes of Geghama Mountains and Aragats starts.
The ski trail is open in January, February, and March. The back way is marked on M4 Yerevan-Sevan highway without reaching Gagarin village. The mountains in Armenia are not enough high, climbing and landing are a real pleasure for skiers in winter.

Monuments description
Geghama sierra stretches in the central part of Armenia in Kotayk, Gegharkunik and Ararat province. It has a volcanic origin, stretches about 65 km in the direction of the meridian. Here is located Mets Lacasar - 2393m, Gutanasar - 2299m, Hatice - 2529m, Spitakasar - 3555m, and the highest is Azhdakak with 3597m altitude in relation to the sea level.

Sevan Monastery, founded by Grigor Lusavorich in 305, is located on the Sevan Peninsula (formerly an island).
The island was fortified with borders until the Bronze Age. There was a pagan temple, and in IX century Syunik princes made their pivot here. In 874 Mariam, the daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni, at the same time the wife of Prince Syunyats Vasak Gabur, built two churches - Arakelots (smaller) and Astvatsatsin. The construction records, written in 874, are still evident on the eastern side of the drum of the Church of the Apostles.
St. Astvatsatsin (Holly Mother) church, situated in the south-east of the peninsula, has the same trump of composition. The western side is enclosed with a courtyard, one of the oldest (standing until the 1930s). The columns of the canvas are embroidered with wooden ornamented caps that are now kept in the State Historical Museum of Armenia and Hermitage. It is assumed that the caps were brought from a palace building. They are truly valuable pieces of Armenian medieval woodworking art.
The remains of a domed hall-type church (probably built later) have been preserved on the hill. There are numerous khachkars in the area. In 1956-57 the churches were renovated.

Lake Sevan is situated at an altitude of 1,900m above sea level. Its’ length is 78km and the maximum width is 56km. The lake itself is 1,260 km2 and it is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. The average depth is 26.8m, the deepest place is Pokr (Small) Sevan at 83m. The volume of the water is 32.92 billion m³.
The Lake is cut into two parts by the Shorzha underwater dam- Mets (Big) Sevan (the average depth is 37.7m) and Pokr (Small) Sevan (50.9m). In summer, the surface water temperature reaches 21 degrees, and it rarely freezes in winter. Sevan is fed by 28 rivers and streams, among them is the Gavaraget, Argichin, Masrik, and Dzknaget Rivers, but only the Hrazdan River outflows from Lake Sevan. Endemic fish live in Lake Sevan, such as Barbus goktschaicus, Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi, and the Salmo ischchan. The Salmo ischchan has also been taken to Central Asia, where it has perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions there.
The whitefish was brought to Sevan from the Ladoga and Chud lakes of Russia in 1,924, and is now productively breeding, and has gained great industrial importance in the area. Sevan National Park was founded in the basin of Sevan. It has four stocks and ten reserves. The lake is considered to be an important breeding center for gulls, the number of which is between 4,000-5,000 pair.
The basin of Sevan has been explored by hundreds of scientists and travellers. During all those explorations there was not even a hint of the existence of hidden historical monuments under the lake. But recently, the secret was revealed, when the water level decreased a little. 3,000-5,000-year-old ruins of castles and dwellings, and a large number of tombs were found.

Fauna
Bears, wolves, and foxes are mainly encountered here.

Safety and Security
From Lchashen village to Mets Lchasar, Ucom and Viva Cell-Mts mobile connections are always available․ In the case of an accident 911 rescue services operate in Armenia 24/7. Beware of dogs in the village.

Trail technical parameters
Best period: January - March
Distance: 65 km from Yerevan, by taxi
Duration: 1 hour 5 min
Ski trail length: 10.86 km
Skiing duration: 4 hours 30 min
Altitude from sea level: 1930-2393.8m
The best drink is hot tea

How to get to the trail
In order to reach the above mentioned ski trail you should leave from Yerevan to Lchashen village of Gegharkunik marz by taxi, where the ski trail is mentioned. Please use the taxis, in which counters are installed. Taxis throughout Armenia are quite affordable.