Lake Sevan is 1897 m above sea level. It is important to remember that since 1938 the water level has dropped 19 m, turning Sevan Island into a peninsula and creating a series of flat shelves and gravelly beaches around the lake. The ancient national name of Lake Sevan is Geghama Sea. The total area of Lake Sevan is 1256 square kilometers and the maximum depth is 99 meters.
Standing on the Sevan peninsula Sevanavank is like a jewel in the crown of Lake Sevan. Princess Mariam Bagratuni sponsored construction of a monastery, which was the first example of an important religious/architectural regional school of the Armenian Renascence. While climbing the steps leading to the top of the peninsula, one reaches first the Arakelots (Apostles) and then Astvatsatsin church (Mother of God). Both are cross-like constructions dating back to 874.