Metsamor

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For the village near Echmiadzin, see Metsamor, Echmiadzin; for the river, see Akhurian River; for the archaeological site, see Metsamor site.

Coordinates: 40°08′34″N 44°06′59″E / 40.14278°N 44.11639°E / 40.14278; 44.11639

Metsamor
Մեծամոր
Standing stones at the ruins of the Metsamor site
Metsamor
Coordinates: 40°08′34″N 44°06′59″E / 40.14278°N 44.11639°E / 40.14278; 44.11639
Country Armenia
Marz (Province) Armavir
Founded 1979
Area
 • Total 4 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Total 10,300
Time zone   (UTC+4)
 • Summer (DST)   (UTC)

Metsamor (Armenian: Մեծամոր, Armenian pronunciation: [mɛt͡sɑˈmoɾ]) is a town and an urban community in the Armavir Province of Armenia. It is famous for being home to Armenia's Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.

The modern town of Metsamor was built in 1979 to house the employees of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant was temporarily closed in 1989 after the 1988 Spitak earthquake for safety reasons. However, economic and transportation blockades by Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey, which created energy shortages in Armenia, caused the Armenian government to reopen the plant in 1993. The unit 2 reactor was brought back into operation on October 26, 1995. Nowadays, the Metsamor plant generates 40% of Armenia's energy needs.[1]

History

The archaeological site of Metsamor Castle has been populated from the 5th millennium BC until the 18th century AD. The excavations of the tombs of Metsamor castle began in 1965. It is notable with its observatory and temple complexes consisted of seven sanctuaries. The neolithic stone circles of c. 5000 BC, are located adjacent to the castle site. The site also hosts the Metsamor Museum, marking the bronze-age settlement. Excavations at the site demonstrate that there had been a vibrant cultural centre in Metsamor from roughly 4000 to 3000 BC, and many artifacts are housed in the museum. The settlement persisted through the Middle Ages.

Gallery

References

Media related to Metsamor at Wikimedia Commons

  1. ↑ http://www.prlog.org/11389688-analyzing-nuclear-power-in-armenia.html
Capital: Armavir
Towns
Villages
Non-community
villages
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