For the village in Ararat Province, see Abovyan, Ararat.

Coordinates: 40°16′26″N 44°37′32″E / 40.27389°N 44.62556°E / 40.27389; 44.62556

Abovyan Աբովյան
Abovyan as viewed from Nor Hachn
Abovyan Աբովյան
Coordinates: 40°16′26″N 44°37′32″E / 40.27389°N 44.62556°E / 40.27389; 44.62556
Country	Armenia
Marz (province)	Kotayk
Established	1963
Government
• Mayor	Karapet Guloyan
Area
• Total	7 km2 (3 sq mi)
Elevation	1,450 m (4,760 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	46,000
• Density	6,643/km2 (17,210/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC (UTC+4)
• Summer (DST)	DST (UTC+5)
Area code(s)	(+374)222
Website	Abovyan portal
Sources: Population [1]

Abovyan (Armenian: Աբովյան) is a city in Armenia in the province of Kotayk. It is located 15 km northeast of Yerevan and 36 km southeast of the province centre Hrazdan. In 2009, the estimated population of the city was 46,000, down from 59,000 at the 1989 census. The city covers an area of 7.08 km².

With a motorway and railway running through it that connects the capital with the areas of the northeast, Abovyan is considered a satellite city of Yerevan. Therefore, Abovyan is sometimes referred to be the "Northern Gate of Yerevan".

History[link]

Abovyan was founded in 1963. Until 1961, the small village of "Elar" (part of present-day Abovyan) was the only settlement of that area. According to the Armenian historian Stepanos Orbelian of the 13th century, Elar was awarded to Liparit Orbelian, a n obles of Orbelian Dynasty, by prince Atabek Ivane. In 1961, the village of Elar was renamed Abovyan in the honour of the Armenian writer Khachatur Abovian, and 2 years later, the city was formed at the same pitch.

During his researches in 1960, historian "Mesrop Smbatiants" found king Argishti I's Urartian cuneiform which narrates about the conquest of Daran (pre-Urartian name of the present-day Abovyan area) of Ulusan country. Excavations and found materials proved that the area was inhabited since the end of the 4th century BC. During the excavations, the remains of a fortress, a cemetrey and old shelters were also found with several objects and remnants of three stages of the Bronze Age.^[2]

The Surb Stepanos (Saint Stephen) medieval church (renovated in 1851) lies on a nearby hill in Elar district.

A small Kurdish community lives in Abovyan.^[3]

Geography[link]

Abovyan is built on Kotayk plateau between the rivers of Hrazdan, Azat and Getar at a height of 1450 meters above sea level. It is surrounded with Geghama mountain range from the northwest, Hatis and Gutanasar mountains from the north, Hrazdan gorge from the west and the heights of Nork from the south. The climate is continental and dry with relatively hot summers and cold winters.

There is a small lake in the city called "Akna".

Arzni town-resort is located only 6 km west of Abovyan.

Economy[link]

Abovyan is a rather industrialized city. It has many well-developed factories among which are the factories of concrete construction, stone processing and chemical productions. The city is home to one of the leading beer producers in the Armenian market, "Kotayk Brewery" which is owned by Castle Group since 1997.^[4] Several companies in Abovyan export the entire volume of their industrial output.

Education and Sports[link]

Abovyan has 10 public education schools, 9 kindergartens and 2 state intermediate colleges. The city hosts 2 significant institutions of science in Amrneia: The Republican Hospital of tuberculosis and the Institute of Biological Microbes of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Many cultural centres operate in the city, such as the cultural palace of Abovyan, the community creative centre of children and teenagers, the musical school, the art school, the public library and the museum of Abovyan.

FC Kotayk Abovian is one of the oldest clubs in Armenia. Like other football teams in Armenia, FC Kotayk was forced to default from the Armenian football league and consequently from professional football since 2005, due to financial crisis. There is an improved sport school-complex in the city.

Sister cities[link]

• Villeurbanne, Rhône-Alpes, France (since 1990)
• Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia

References[link]

• Abovyan at GEOnet Names Server
• Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia

External links[link]

• Abovyan city new website
• Abovyan city website
• Abovyan - Armeniapedia.org

v t e Kotayk Province Capital: Hrazdan Hrazdan Aghavnadzor Artavaz Hankavan Hrazdan Jrarat Kaghsi Lernanist Marmarik Meghradzor Solak Tsaghkadzor Abovyan Abovyan Akunk Aramus Arinj Arzni Balahovit Byureghavan Dzoraghbyur Garni Geghadir Geghard Geghashen Goght Hatis Hatsavan Jraber Jrvezh Kamaris Kaputan Katnaghbyur Kotayk Mayakovski Nor Gyugh Nurnus Ptghni Radiokayanin kits Sevaberd Verin Ptghni Voghjaberd Zar Zovashen Zovk Yeghvard Aragyugh Argel Buzhakan Getamej Kanakeravan Karashamb Kasakh Mrgashen Nor Artamet Nor Geghi Nor Hachn Nor Yerznka Proshyan Saralanj Teghenik Yeghvard Zoravan Zovuni Charentsavan Alapars Arzakan Bjni Charentsavan Fantan Karenis

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Its only attribution is to IMDb, which may not be a reliable source for biographical information. Please help by adding additional, reliable sources for verification. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2011)

Michael Movsesi Poghosyan (sometimes credited as Mikael Pogosyan, Michael Poghosian, Mikael Poghosyan, Armenian: Միքայել Պողոսյան, born 31 May 1956, Yerevan, Armenian SSR) is an Armenian film and theatre actor and judge on the Armenian version of Pop Idol.

Professional practice[link]

In 1978 he was graduated from the Acting Department of Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute, 1976-91 - worked in the Yerevan Chamber Theatre, 1978-92 - actor of Armenfilm Studio, 1992-94 - worked in the Hamazgayin Yerevan Drama Theatre.^[1]

Selected filmography[link]

• Symphony of Silence (2001) as Kondi Gzho
• The Merry Bus (2001)
• Yerevan Blues (1998) as Hapetik/Policeman/Sparapet/Indian Ambassador/Theatre Fireman
• Khatabalada (1997) as Hamazasp
• The Voice in the Wilderness] (1991) as Tomazo
• Deadline in Seven Days (1991 as Mikael Poghosyan
• Wind of Oblivion (1990) as Mikael Poghosyan
• Taynyy sovetnik (1989) as Mikael Poghosyan
• Three of Us (1988)
• The Last Sunday (1986) as Armen
• Snowdrops and Edelweiss (1982) as Zhikharev

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site (English, requires Flash)
• Mikael Poghosyan at the Internet Movie Database