Lake Sevan is Armenia's main summer resort — the country is landlocked, and for Armenians the lake fills the role of sea. Beach areas near the monastery and along the shore become busy from July through August, with families from Yerevan making a weekend or day trip of it.
The lake sits at roughly 2,000 metres above sea level, which means two things: the water stays cold even at the height of summer, and UV exposure is intense. Sunscreen and a hat are not optional. The cold water doesn't deter anyone — it just makes getting in an event.