BASIN OF LAKE ARPI TO BECOME NATIONAL PARK

Armenpress
Sept 7, 2005

GYUMRI, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: The basin of Lake Arpi and Akhurian
River, situated in the Ashotzk mountains, close to the borders with
Turkey and Georgia, approximately 110 km northwest of the city of
Yerevan, in northwestern Armenia will be turned into a national park.

Financial aid is expected from Germany to launch the first phase of
this program that was supposed to kick off three years ago, but was
delayed due to lack of money. The project will be started next year
with support to come from the government.

Lake Arpi is a natural wetland of botanical importance, although the
water level has been raised by an artificial dam. It supports several
plant species which are rare in Armenia. The lake is fed by several
small rivers, springs and melt-water, and freezes over during the
winter months.