Lesson plan
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan ( ) is the largest body of water in Armenia and the broader Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater alpine lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of above sea level. It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. 10% of this incoming water is drained by the Hrazdan River, while the remaining 90% evaporates. The total surface area of its basin is about , which makes up of Armenia's territory. The lake itself is , and the volume is . Lake Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Sevan Island was the lake's sole major island and is the site of Sevanavank, a monastery built in the period of Medieval Armenia. Due to falling water levels, the island is now a peninsula. The lake provides some 90% of the fish and 80% of the crayfish catch of Armenia. Lake Sevan was heavily exploited for irrigation of the Ararat plain and hydroelectric power generation during the Soviet period. Consequently, its water level decreased by around and its volume reduced by more than 40%. Later, two tunnels were built to divert water from highland rivers to the lake. Before human intervention dramatically changed the lake's ecosystem, the lake was at an altitude of above sea level, deep, covered an area of (5% of Armenia's entire area), and had a volume of . Expedition 6
Article summary
Lake Sevan ( ) is the largest body of water in Armenia and the broader Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater alpine lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of above sea level. It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. 10% of this incoming water is drained by the Hrazdan River, while the remaining 90% evaporates. The total surface area of its basin is about , which makes up of Armenia's territory. The lake itself is , and the volume is . Lake Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Sevan Island was the lake's sole major island and is the site of Sevanavank, a monastery built in the period of Medieval Armenia. Due to falling water levels, the island is now a peninsula. The lake provides some 90% of the fish and 80% of the crayfish catch of Armenia. Lake Sevan was heavily exploited for irrigation of the Ararat plain and hydroelectric power generation during the Soviet period. Consequently, its water level decreased by around and its volume reduced by more than 40%. Later, two tunnels were built to divert water from highland rivers to the lake. Before human intervention dramatically changed the lake's ecosystem, the lake was at an altitude of above sea level, deep, covered an area of (5% of Armenia's entire area), and had a volume of . Expedition 6
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.