Byurakan

Summary

Byurakan (Armenian: Բյուրական) is a village in the Ashtarak Municipality of the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, located on the slope of Mount Aragats. The village is home to several historical sites including the 7th-century Artavazik Church, the 10th-century basilica of Saint Hovhannes and a huge 13th-century khachkar monument.

Byurakan
Բյուրական
View of Byurakan as seen from the village of Tegher
View of Byurakan as seen from the village of Tegher
Coat of arms of Byurakan
Byurakan is located in Armenia
Byurakan
Byurakan
Byurakan is located in Aragatsotn
Byurakan
Byurakan
Coordinates: 40°20′24″N 44°16′13″E / 40.34000°N 44.27028°E / 40.34000; 44.27028
CountryArmenia
ProvinceAragatsotn
MunicipalityAshtarak
Government
 • MayorZarzand Babayan
Area
 • Total21.27 km2 (8.21 sq mi)
Elevation
1,460 m (4,790 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total4,345
Time zoneUTC+4

It is also home to the Byurakan Observatory.

Byurakan Observatory edit

Byurakan observatory is founded in 1946 by Viktor Hambardzumyan, Armenian scientist. There are several telescopes. The diameter of the biggest telescope is 2.6m (the biggest telescope in Caucasus). There is also a 1m Schmidt telescope.

Gallery edit

References edit

  • Byurakan at GEOnet Names Server
  • World Gazetteer: Armenia[dead link] – World-Gazetteer.com
  • Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census
  • Kiesling, Rediscovering Armenia, p. 15, available online at the US embassy to Armenia's website