The reservoir of Aparan was built on the river of Kasakh in the 1960s for agricultural purposes. There is a wall of 200m length and 50m height which helps to gather the water of Kasakh river and other rivers nearby during the spring melts and downfalls. This creates a huge lake which irrigates the gardens of Ejmiatsin and Ashtarak.
Guess what, being built for agricultural purposes the lake became a unique place for rest for people. During the construction of the reservoir and later thousands of pine trees were planted on its eastern side which became a forest.
There is a mysterious story about this reservoir. The thing is there was a village called Zovuni on the place of it which was moved near Yerevan and today’s inhabitants of Zovuni remember the old village and call it ‘’Old Zovuni’’. They often come to visit their ancestors’ graves and to eat something in the forest by spending good time.
The old village also had its religious places. The walls of 7th century st. Poghos Petros church still are not ruined even being underwater of the reservoir for some months. There was another chapel of Vardan which was removed from there to the nearest hill next to an old cemetery.
On the Eastern side of the reservoir the local natural forests continue the planted forests and the mountain range Teghenis starts from there.
One can visit the reservoir from different sides. The people who often visit it walk on that 200m long wall. But the planted tree of pines can be visited from Kuchak village and of course Teghenis mountain range.
The fauna is rich. There are bears, hyenas, rodent animals and reptiles including snakes.