Kapan

For other uses, see Kapan (disambiguation).
Kapan
Khustup Mountain from Kapan
Kapan is located in Armenia
Kapan
Location of Kapan in Armenia
Coordinates: 39°12′04″N 46°24′54″E / 39.20111°N 46.415°E / 39.20111; 46.415
Country
Marz		 Armenia
Syunik
Government
 - MayorArtur Atayan
Area
 - Total36 km2 (13.9 sq mi)
Elevation905.5 m (2,971 ft)
Population (2008)
 - Total35,071
Time zoneGMT+4 (UTC+4)
 - Summer (DST)GMT+5 (UTC+5)

Kapan (Armenian: Կապան); former names include Ghapan, Ghap’an, Kafin, Kafan, Katan, Qafan, Zangezur, and Madan) is the capital of the Syunik province (marz) of Armenia. The city is located 316 kilometers from Yerevan

Contents

Etymology

The word Kapan originates from the Armenian verb kapel (կապել), which mean "to lock," and points to an old Armenian geographic term for valleys surrounded by interlocked mountain chains. [1]

Geography

Kapan is the largest city in southern Armenia. Located in the east of Syunik Province in the Voghji valley it lies on the south-eastern slopes of the Zangezur Mountain Range between its spurs, the Bargushatskim and Meghri ridges. To the south of the city is Mount Khustup (3201 m).

History

The area around Kapan was first mentioned in the 5th century. In the 10th century, the ruler of Syunik, Prince Smbat II, moved here and founded the Syunik, or Bahkskoe kingdom, proclaiming himself king in 970. The city is associated with Davit Bek, an 18th century Armenian leader whose wars with against the Turkish and Persian Muslim invaders were fought around Syunik. His liberation campaign with a handful of brave men began in 1722, and attracted thousands of patriots who liberated Syunik.[2] Near to Kapan is the castle in which Bek died in 1728.

Kapan, as a city, formed in the 19th century from the merger of several villages.

Economy

Vahanavank monastery

With a population of about 35,000, Kapan is struggling to cope with the realities of post-Karabakh war and post-Soviet society. However, there are signs of growth and development. Kapan is primarily a mining city, hence its Persian name of the Qajar time معدن (Ma'dan, meaning "mine"). Kapan's industry is dependent on the newly privatized polymetallic deposit, though additional operations have developed including mining support services, commercial scale animal husbandry, and an expanding retail sector. The furniture and textile industries have grown in recent years.

Kapan was and remains a center of production of many non-ferrous metals. Commercial development of the local deposits began in 1890. Armenian entrepreneurs and French mining engineers obtained concessions to the copper mines and a copper-ore processing plant was built in the city.

Notable landmarks

Tatev Monastery
Kapan. Monument to David Bek.
  • Vahanavank monastery
  • Baghaberd and Halidzor fortresses.
  • Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times. It is located strategically, overlooking a deep river gorge.
  • Monument to Davit Bek.
  • Kapan College of Music
  • Kapan Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
  • Kapan Theatre

Transportation

The city is connected to Iran by road. In late 2008, the road was redeveloped between Kapan and Kajaran-Meghri. From the city is only the nonoperating railway line Capão Kovsakan-Midzhnavan.

Prior to the Karabakh war, a small airport was used to accommodate the aircraft YAK-40 and AN-14 cargo.

The other nearest airport is located 62 kilometers to the north.

Sport

Notable People from Kapan

Sister cities


References

  1. ^ Western Armenian Dictionary & Phrasebook: Armenian-English/English-Armenian (Hippocrene Dictionary and Phrasebook). 2006. p. 86
  2. ^ "Капан" (in Russian). www.abp.am. http://www.abp.am/armenia/city/kapan/. Retrieved August 28, 2009. 

Coordinates: 39°12′04″N 46°24′54″E / 39.20111°N 46.415°E / 39.20111; 46.415

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