Nurak

For the village in Iran, see Nurak, Iran.
Nurak
Nurak

Location in Tajikistan

Coordinates: 38°23′N 69°19′E / 38.383°N 69.317°E / 38.383; 69.317
Country Tajikistan
Province Khatlon
Population (2008)
 • Total 18,950 (est)

Nurek (Tajik: Норак; Persian: نارک‎‎) is a city in the Khatlon province of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Vakhsh River, 885 m above sea level, and is 70 km southeast of Dushanbe, the capital. It has a population of 18,950 (2008 estimate).[1]

The city was founded in 1960 alongside the construction of Nurek Dam, which was completed in 1980.

The city also has a military area housing personnel working at the nearby optical satellite tracking facility, the Okno ("Window") complex[2]38°16′52″N 69°13′30″E / 38.281°N 69.225°E / 38.281; 69.225, belonging to the Russian Space Forces. The Okno is capable of tracking objects 40,000 kilometers (25,000 mi) from Earth, the space forces said in a statement carried by the Interfax-Military News Agency when it was put on duty in 2002.[3] The facility involves telescope-like equipment housed in several large spheres, similar to the U.S. GEODSS system.

References

  1. ↑ "Tajikistan". World Gazetteer. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
  2. ↑ https://fas.org/spp/military/program/track/okno.pdf Sourcebook on the Okno and Krona Space Surveillance Systems
  3. ↑ SPACE.com - Russian Space Forces Inaugurate New Space-Tracking Facility

Coordinates: 38°23′N 69°19′E / 38.383°N 69.317°E / 38.383; 69.317


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