It is the largest province in Armenia. Its capital and largest city is the town of Gavar. The town is situated among the high mountains of Geghama range.
Tourism services in Gegharkunik are seasonal. The towns of Sevan, Chambarak and Martuni along with their surrounding beaches are a major summer destination for locals and foreigners with many hotels and resorts. The cultural heritage and the natural monuments of the region attract the tourists too.
Many forests of the province are listed among the protected areas of Armenia, including the Sevan National Park, the Getik Sanctuary, the Juniper Woodlands Sanctuary of the mountains of Sevan. There is also a botanical garden in Sevan.
With an area of 5,348 km², approximately 1,278 km² of Gegharkunik’s territory is covered by Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus, one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia and a major tourist attraction of the region.
Culture & Tourism
Lake Sevan has the only beaches in Armenia. They are a popular destination for the Armenians. Sevan's beaches provide a unique experience within the landlocked country for Armenians. The beaches adjacent to hotels are usually privatized. Numerous beaches are located along the entire lake shore. The most popular of them is a 2.5-km stretch on the northern shore, extending northwest from the peninsula. Resorts include Harsnaqar Hotel, the Akhtamar Sevan hotel, the Kaputak Sevan rest house near Chambarak, the Maria Resort of Sevan, the Best Western Bohemian Resort Sevan, the Lavanda City cottages and numerous smaller facilities. Activities include swimming, sunbathing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and sailing. The area also includes numerous campgrounds and picnic areas for daytime use. A less-developed beach destination stretches along the eastern shore from Tsovagyugh to Shorzha, with numerous small cabins at Shorzha. The Avan Marak Tsapatagh Hotel, a Tufenkian Heritage Hotel, is a luxury resort on the undeveloped southeastern shore of the lake near Tsapatagh.
The most famous cultural monument is the Sevanavank monastery located on the peninsula, which was until the mid-20th century an island. Another prominent monastery at the western shore is Hayravank, and further south, in the village of Noratus, is a field of khachkars, a cemetery with about 900 khachkars of different styles. Additional khachkars are found at Nerkin Getashen on the south coast.
Sevan provides some 90% of the fish and 80% of the crayfish catch of Armenia. It has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value.