The Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection refutes the rumors about advancing Lake Sevan on pawn. Earlier that information was voiced by Silva Adamyan, Head of the Bird Lovers' Center, who cited her own sources. She said that Lake Sevan was pawned at one of the largest international banks.
"That information has nothing to do with the reality. The Sevan is of strategic importance to Armenia and it is protected by the Law "On Lake Sevan", the Ministry stresses in its statement.
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, in the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900 m (6,200 ft) above sea level. The total surface area of its basin is about 5,000 sq km (1,900 sq mi), the lake itself is 940 sq km, and the volume is 34.0 billion cu m. It is fed by 28 rivers and streams.