Lake Arpi Reservoir

Lake Arpi is a freshwater highland lake in Shirak Province in northwestern Armenia. It sits on a plateau of the Armenian Highlands and is a local focus for wetland habitat.

The lake and its surrounding marshes provide habitat for waterbirds and support local fishing and grazing activities. Reedbeds and shallow shoreline areas are characteristic features visited by nature observers and birdwatchers.

The basin is a natural lake system that has been used by nearby communities for water and grazing for many decades. Changes to water level and land use around the lake have occurred periodically in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Lake Arpi lies in the north of Armenia, within Shirak Province, surrounded by rolling highland terrain and low hills. The nearest regional centre is Gyumri to the south, with smaller villages immediately adjacent to the shoreline.

• Head to Lake Arpi early in the morning for the best birdwatching and to catch reflected views on still water; the reserve is especially quiet at dawn.
• Use Gyumri or the nearby regional roads as your approach and ask locally about marked trails and vantage points - there are modest visitor facilities near the main access points, but services are limited.
• Seasonally check for road conditions: the area can be significantly different between summer and winter (ice cover and migratory bird presence change the experience), so time your visit for the wildlife or scenery you want to see.