Metsamor

Metsamor lies about 35 km west of Yerevan on the Ararat plain at roughly 850 metres altitude and is a small, compactly planned town of around 9,500 inhabitants, built in the 1960s and 1970s to house the workforce of Armenia's only nuclear power plant. The Metsamor (Armenian) Nuclear Power Plant came on line in 1976 with two Soviet VVER-440 reactors; temporarily shut down after the 1988 earthquake, Unit 2 was restarted in 1995 and has since supplied up to 40 percent of Armenia's electricity, a vital lifeline during the energy blockade of the 1990s. A few kilometres from the town lies the archaeological site of Metsamor, one of the most important Bronze and Iron Age settlements in the region, where pottery, metallurgical remains, smelting furnaces and possible early astronomical observation points have been uncovered. Metsamor thus represents a remarkable encounter between 5,000-year-old metallurgy and modern nuclear technology.

Nearby cities

Masis

Masis is a notable railway junction and industrial center located in the agricultural Ararat Province.

Artashat

Artashat is the capital of the Ararat Province, built near the ruins of the ancient Armenian capital of the same name.

Ararat

The city of Ararat is an industrial town in the Ararat plain, known primarily for its large cement factory.

Ashtarak

Ashtarak is an ancient city straddling the Kasagh River gorge, rich in medieval bridges and old churches.

Byurakan

A scientific hub on the slopes of Mount Aragats, famous for its world-class astrophysical observatory and ancient churches.

Yeghvard

Yeghvard is a small historic city in the Kotayk region, featuring medieval ruins and old churches.

Armavir

Armavir is an ancient city that served as one of the historical capitals of Armenia, now a modern administrative center.

History & landmarks

Khor Virap

A monastery in the Ararat plain, known for its stunning views of Mount Ararat.

Echmiadzin Cathedral

The mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the center of Armenian Christianity.

Mount Ararat

A snow-capped, dormant volcano in the far east of Turkey, closely associated with the biblical story of Noah's Ark.

Nature

Aras River

The Aras marks the southern border of Armenia and plays an important role in the region's history.

Kasagh River

The Kasagh flows through western Armenia, creating a deep gorge along which many monasteries are located.

Lake Kari

Lake Kari is a high-altitude mountain lake at the foot of Mount Aragats, formed mostly by meltwater.

More places

Zvartnots Cathedral

The ruins of a 7th-century centrally planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral.

Ararat Plain

A wide and fertile plain along the Aras River, the agricultural heart of Armenia.

Ararat Valley Vineyards

The sun-drenched slopes at the foot of Mount Ararat produce some of the best wine grapes for wine production in the Caucasus.

Spayka Greenhouse Complex

The Spayka Greenhouse Complex in the Ararat valley is a massive high-tech agricultural facility.

Khor Virap

An important pilgrimage site offering a spectacular view of Mount Ararat, famous as the prison of Gregory the Illuminator.

Ararat Cement Factory

The Ararat Cement Factory is a large production facility that supplies construction materials to both the domestic market and for export.

Khosrov Forest

Khosrov Forest State Reserve is one of the oldest protected nature areas in the world.

Oshakan Church

A church built over the grave of Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet.