Nurak

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) 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. http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&geo=-209. Retrieved 9 February 2008. 
2. ^ http://www.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