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Lake Arpi National Park

Shirak  >  Armenia

Lake Arpi is a highland lake surrounded by alpine meadows, wetlands and agricultural landscapes. It is the coldest part of Armenia.

Added* by Alexey Voloboy
Most recent update 7 март 2025

Description

Lake Arpi has a big nesting colony of кадроглав пеликан and чапја лажичарка. It is also a perfect stop for spring migrants like обичен пеликан, лисеста гусковидна патка, дива гуска and various waders. In summer the surrounding fields and meadows become home for passerines such as Mountain Chiffchaff, Common Rosefinch, обично камењарче, градинарска стрнарка, нордиско конопјарче and predators like мал орел, глувчар, блатна еја, јастреб врапчар and мал орел кликач.

During spring migration and summer you can find waterfowl, waders, field and even forest species like кукавица and имелов дрозд in the area. There are several villages at the coast of Lake Arpi with cattle farms, where обичен сколовранец, селска ластовичка and other synanthropic species live.

Details

Access

From Gyumri go to Berdashen (last 20 km are unpaved but smooth). Then after the bridge over Ahuryan river, turn left, and after 100 m turn left again on a small road to the hydropower plant and park your car there. If the road is dry, you can go closely along the lakeshore.

It is the best place to observe кадроглав пеликан. There is a colony on a nearby island. If you go further around the lake you can make a stop between Dzorakert and Tsakhut villages. It is also good place on a lake shore.

It takes 3-4 hours of thorough birding in this part of the lake. If you want to make full circle around Lake Arpi it can take 6-7 hours (including 3-4 stops).

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Grassland , Plateau , Lake , Mud flats , Agriculture , City/village

Conditions

Flat , Wet , Slippery , No shadow , Dusty , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Summer , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Summer

Route

Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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