Kapan

Etymology

The word Kapan originates from the Armenian verb kapel/gabel (կապել), meaning "to lock", and points to an old Armenian geographic term for valleys surrounded by interlocked mountain chains.

Ancient history and Middle Ages

The area of modern-day Kapan was first mentioned in the 5th century as a small settlement within the properties of Siunia dynasty. Historically, it was part of the Baghk canton of Syunik, the 9th province of the historic Kingdom of Armenia (Armenia Major). By the end of the 10th century, the ruler of Syunik; prince Smbat II, moved to the town of Kapan and founded the Kingdom of Syunik, proclaiming himself a king under the protectorate of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia.

In 1103, Kapan was entirely ruined by the Seljuk invaders. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, Syunik along with the rest of the historic territories of Armenia suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Aq Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.

Iranian rule

At the beginning of the 16th century, Kapan became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia. By the beginning of the 18th century, Kapan was associated with the Armenian military leader David Bek, who led the liberation campaign of the Armenians of Syunik against Safavid Persia and the invading Ottoman Turks. David Bek started his battles in 1722 with the help of thousands of local Armenian patriots who liberated Syunik. The centre of David Bek's struggle was the Baghaberd Fortress northwest of Kapan and Halidzor Fortress southwest of Kapan where he died in 1728.

Kapan became a significant urban settlement during the Qajar Persian rule in the 18th century.

Russian rule

In 1813, Syunik -including Kapan- became part of the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1804–13 and the signing of the Treaty of Gulistan, between Russia and Qajar Persia. In 1868, it became part of the Zangezursky Uyezd, within the Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire. With the merger of several villages, Kapan was formed as an urban community during the 19th century.

20th century and beyond

In 1938, Kapan was given the status of a town by the Soviet government of Armenia. Present-day Kapan is built around 10 km (6 mi) southeast of the old town.

Kapan used to have a small Jewish community since the medieval period.

Geography and climate

Kapan is the largest town in the Syunik province as well as the entire region of southern Armenia. It is located in the eastern part of Syunik, within the narrow valley of Voghji River on a length of 13 km (8 mi) form the east to the west, at the southeastern slopes of the Zangezur Mountain Range, between the Bargushat and Meghri ridges.

The town is about 80 km (50 mi) north of the Iranian border.

With a height of 3201 meters, Mount Khustup is the highest peak of the region. The elevation of Kapan ranges between 750–1050 metres above sea level, with an average height of 910 metres.

The tributaries of Voghji River, Vachagan and Kavart flow through the town as well.

Kapan is characterized with hot summers and cold winters. Temperature could reach up to 38 °C (100 °F) during summer, and could fall down to −15 °C (5 °F) during winter.

The Shikahogh State Preserve, founded in 1958, is located around 14 km (9 mi) south of Kapan, near the Shikahogh village. The preserve is home to about 1,100 species of plants, 70 of which have been registered in the Red Book of Armenia. The fauna of Shikahogh has not been fully explored, but studies have already revealed rare species of animals such as leopard, wild goat, bear, viper, and hedgehog.

Demographics

Kapan is almost entirely populated by ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The town's main church is the Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church opened in December 2001. It belongs to the Diocese of Syunik of the Armenian Apostolic Church, based in the nearby town of Goris. A sizable Jewish lived in its own quarter in Kapan during the Middle Ages. The town used to have a minority of Greek community with their own church during the 19th century.

Here is the population timeline of Kapan since 1831:

Culture

The Kapan Museum of Geology and the History Museum named after Shmavon Movsisyan are among the prominent cultural structures of the town.

The area around Kapan has a plenty of historical structures including:

The town has many attractive structures including:

Wings of Tatev cableway which connects Halidzor village with the Tatev monastery is located 24 km (15 mi) north of Kapan. It is the longest reversible aerial tramway built in one section only.

Media

Kapan has 2 local TV companies: Khustup TV and Sosi TV. Khustup TV was founded in 2004 and covers the entire region of Syunik. Sosi TV founded in 2012, covers the middle and southern parts of Syunik.

Transportation

The M-2 Motorway that connects the capital Yerevan with southern Armenia, Iranian border, and Artsakh Republic, passes through Kapan.

In late 2008, the road between Kapan and Meghri on the Iranian border was redeveloped. However The railway line Kapan-Kovsakan-Mijnavan is currently inactive.

Prior to the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the nearby defunct airport accommodated the aircraft YAK-40 and AN-14 cargo. In February 2017, the governor of Syunik Province Vahe Hakobyan, announced that the airfield will be promoted to become a modern airport serving the town of Kapan and southern Armenia, and on June 6 a test landing was conducted at the airfield with the governor on board. According to the initiated plan, the reconstruction is expected to be completed in 2018.

Economy

With a population of around 45,500, 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 centre, 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 has been a major centre for the 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.

Nowadays, Kapan is home to a number of industrial firms operating in the industrial district of the town. The largest firms are the "Kapan CH.SH.SH." for building materials founded in 1947, the Kapan machine tools plant founded in 1972, the "Sonatex" knitting factory founded in 1985, and the "Marila LLC" for meat and dairy products founded in 2010.

Education

Kapan is the education centre of southern Armenia. It has 13 public education schools, 3 music schools and 3 sport academies.

The Kapan campus of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia is home to two faculties:

Sport

Association football is the most popular sport in the town. FC Gandzasar Kapan, founded in 2004, are representing the town in the Armenian Premier League. They play their home games at the Gandzasar Stadium. The club won the 3rd place of the Armenian Premier League on 3 occasions: in 2008, 2011 and 2012-13. Gandzasar have the highest average attendance at home games in the league.

In May 2013, Gandzasar Kapan opened their football training centre at the outskirts of Kapan. The new complex has many regular-sized football pitches including one with artificial turf. The academy became the first developed technical football centre in the Syunik Province.

Basketball, artistic gymnastics, boxing and athletics are among the widely practiced sports in Kapan.

Twin towns – Sister cities

Notable natives