The Armenian Highlands are home to numerous fast-flowing, rapid mountain rivers and scenic lakes, which are fed by small glaciers on the peaks of high mountains that persist throughout the year. Groundwater is accumulated in the rock layers of intermountain basins and in the fractured lava of mountain shields and plateaus.
Rivers
The rivers of the Armenian Highlands belong to the basins of the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Arabian (Persian Gulf) Sea. Rivers flowing into Lakes Van and Urmia are part of the internal drainage basin.
Many rivers in the Armenian Highlands flow through valleys with steep gradients, are prone to floods, and possess significant hydropower potential. Rivers that flow through lowland areas are primarily used for irrigation. The largest rivers are the Euphrates, Tigris, Kura, Araks, and Chorokh, whose sources are located close to one another in the central part of the highlands.
The feeding regime of rivers in the Armenian Highlands is mixed. They are mainly fed by snowmelt, rainfall, and, to a lesser extent, groundwater. The flow regime is unstable, with floods occurring in spring and autumn. In summer and winter, river water levels drop sharply. Short, low-water rivers in the central highlands (particularly in the Urmia basin) generally dry up during the summer.
Lakes
The Armenian Highlands are rich in lakes of various origins. The most common types are tectonic, tectono-volcanic, volcanic, and glacial lakes. The largest tectonic lake is Lake Urmia. Among the tectono-volcanic lakes, the largest are Lake Van and Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is the largest and highest-altitude freshwater lake in Western Asia.
In the highlands, many lakes of volcanic origin are found, especially on the Akhalkalaki plateau (Parvana, Khanchali, Tabatskuri, Sagamo). Small lakes have formed in volcanic craters and in basins created by ancient mountain glaciers. Among the crater lakes, the largest is Lake Nemrut, formed in the extensive crater of the eponymous mountain. Crater lakes are primarily fed by atmospheric precipitation, while glacial lakes are fed by meltwater.
The most common lakes are glacial, located in former glacial cirques and typically small in area. There are also small lakes situated between moraine ridges, most of which dry up in the second half of summer. Examples of glacial lakes include Kari on Mount Aragats, Akna in the Geghama Mountains, Sev on Ishkhanasar, Gazana on Kapudzhukh, as well as numerous small lakes on the Byurakn plateau.
On the valley floors of the Armenian Highlands, there are also floodplain (paleolacustrine) lakes, which are remnants of river channels. Such small lakes are found along the banks of the Araks, Aratsani, and Euphrates rivers. Among the lowland lakes is also Lake Metsamor (Aygr), which is almost entirely fed by groundwater.
Reservoirs
Since ancient times, reservoirs have been constructed to ensure a regular water supply, and their construction continues today. In the territory of Armenia, reservoirs such as Akhurian, Aparan, Spandaryan, and others have been built. In historical Armenia, the largest is the Keban Reservoir on the Euphrates River.
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