Sevanavank, Areguni Mountain Range, Aghavnavank

Mountain biking trail description
The biking trail begins from Sevanavank, in Gegharkunik province of Armenia. Lake Sevan is one of the most favourite resorts of Armenians. The most popular tourist centre is Sevanavank located on Sevan peninsula. In summer, the water temperature reaches 21 degrees, so you can swim in the Lake. The Vaskenian Theological Seminary of Sevan was established in 1990 on the east of peninsula of Lake Sevan.
After completing the visits to places of interest you will ride by the only paved road and will reach Tsovagyugh village near the Lake Sevan. Then, by the car road, you will ride up (due to the marked trail) to Areguni mountain range by gravel trails. At the altitude of 2,450m the road begins to descend sharply towards Tavush province. The biking trail passes through ‘Dilijan’ National Park. You will probably be asked to stop there and register, as this is a state park. Riding downwards through woods you will get to village Khachardzan, and then riding 3km more you will reach village Aghavnavank. Afterwards, the trails lead you to the picturesque church of Aghavnavank surrounded with rare tree species. Aghavnavank church and the Yew Grove with its mysterious landscape are located in ‘Dilijan’ National Park. Thereby, the biking trail from Sevanavank (Gegharkunik province) to Aghavnavank (Tavush province) ends.

Monuments description
Sevanavank is located on the Sevan peninsula (formerly island). It was founded by Grigor Lusavorich in 305.
The island was fortified in the Bronze Age. There has been a pagan temple. In the 9th century Sevan was the stronghold of the princes of Syunik. In 874, Princess Mariam (the daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni and the wife of Syunik Vasak Gabur Prince) founded two churches – the Apostolic (small) and Astvatsatsin (Virgin Mary). The construction record written in 874, has been preserved on the eastern tower of the Apostolic church.
Astvatsatsin church also has a three circular base setup. There has been a vestibule on the western side, which was one of the oldest (existed till 1930). Wooden sculptured capitals were decorating the vestibule pillars, which are now kept in the State Museum of History of Armenia and Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. It is assumed that the capitals were brought from some palace. These are valuable samples of the Armenian medieval wood art. Some domed church remains have been preserved on the top of the church.
There are numerous khachkars (cross-stones) in the territory of the monastic complex. In 1956-1957 the churches were repaired.

Lake Sevan is situated at an altitude of 1900m above sea level. Its length is 78km and the maximum width is 56km. The lake itself is 1260 sq. km and 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- 83m. The volume of the water is 32,92 billion cubic m.
The Lake is cut into two parts by 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 rarely freezes in winter. Sevan is fed by 28 rivers and streams. Among them is Gavaraget, Argichin, Masrik, Dzknaget. But only river Hrazdan outflows from Sevan. Endemic fishes live in Sevan Lake, such as Barbus goktschaicus, Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi, Salmo ischchan. The Salmo ischchan has also been taken to Central Asia, where it has perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions.
The whitefish was brought to Sevan from Ladoga and Chud lakes of Russia in 1924 and now is breeding productively and has an industrial importance. Sevan National Park has been founded in the basin of Sevan. It has four stocks and ten reserves. The lake is considered to be an important breeding centre of gull, the number of which is 4000-5000 pair.
The basin of Sevan has been explored by hundreds of scientists and travellers. But there was not even a hint of the existence of hidden historical monuments under the lake. The secret has been recently revealed, when the water level decreased a little. 3000-5000-year-old ruins of castles and dwellings, a large number of tombs were found.

Aghavnavank is a dilapidated Armenian monastic complex built in village Aghavnavank of Tavush province in the 12-13th centuries. The church is set in a forest clearing “Aghnabat’ and is distinguished by the few virgin groves of ‘redwoods’ (Yew). The church is a small central domed structure with chapels, built on a yellow, smooth pockmarked stone. Two triangular niches are drilled on the east wall. The dome with its peaked hood stands on the arches which bridge the pilasters. The dome and the church roof were covered with hewn flagstones, a few of which have been preserved. The cornice shaped stones have also fallen. The church is not functioning now. One of the trees near the church is considered a ‘dream tree’, where you make a wish by tying handkerchiefs on the branches of the tree.

Flora
There are not much woods in this area, except several parks of eastern oak and juniper on the mountain slopes of Vardenis and Sevan. Now lots of tree planting are being conducted in the basin of Sevan. The flora of the concavity is mostly mountain steppe․There are mountain meadows in the highlands, and alpine rugs above 2800m. There are sparse woods of juniper, oak, maple in some places of the Areguni and Sevan mountain range. There are sprawling juniper parks in Sevan mountain range. Artanish peninsula is forested. Moist forest remnants have preserved in Dzknaget valley. Lake-free space of Sevan concavity is reforested with pine, holly, willow and poplar plantations, which are part of ‘Sevan’ National Park.

Fauna
The fauna of Sevan Basin is diverse. Rodents, wolves, foxes, rabbits, badgers are very common in Sevan basin. There are also such birds as mountain partridges, quail, larks, ducks, geese, heron and several species of fish in the lake. Reptiles are also common in this area. The ‘Sevan’ National Park Reserve was established in the coastal zone. Sevan basin is one of the densely populated and intensive areas used for agricultural purposes. There is also a wide variety of birds. There are resorts, camps, sights and other recreational facilities here.

Safety and Security
Ucom and VivaCell-MTS networks are available near the residents, but connection may be lost in Areguni mountains and ‘Dilijan’ National Park. In case of emergency, call to 911 service available throughout Armenia. Beware of dogs guarding flocks of sheep.

Technical parameters
Best period: May - October
Distance 69km from Yerevan
Duration: 1 hour and 5 min.
Biking trail length: 35km.
Ride duration: 5 hours.
Altitude from sea level: 1920-2460-1267m
The 85% of the road is covered with sandstones, the 15% is asphalted.
The best drink to have at hand is bottled water.

How to Reach the Trail
To pass the above-mentioned trail, you need to get to Sevanavank. It is most convenient to travel by taxi. Taxi services are quite affordable throughout Armenia. We recommend you taking a cab with a taximeter.