Akhtala

Coordinates: 41°08′N 44°46′E / 41.133°N 44.767°E / 41.133; 44.767

Akhtala (Armenian: Ախթալա), is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia, located along the Shamlugh river, on the slopes of Lalvar mountain, at a distance of 186 km north of the capital Yerevan and 62 km north of provincial centre Vanadzor. Akhtala was a village until 1939 when it was granted the status of an urban community, with its 400 inhabitants. In 1995, the government of independent Armenia reaffirmed the status of Akhtala as a town. According to the 2009 official estimate, Akhtala has around 2,400 inhabitants. However, the town used to have around 4,500 inhabitants during the 1970s.

Historical background

During the 18th century, the village known as Akhtala was part of the Borchalu region of Tiflis governorate under the Russian rule. Starting from 1763, Greek experts from Gümüşhane arrived in Akhtala by the request of King Erekle II of Georgia, to utilize the copper and silver mines and establish the copper and silver factory in Akhtala region. Therefore, the village was sometimes called "Pghindzahank" (copper mine) and "Artsatahank" (silver mine).

Akhtala (disambiguation)

Akhtala may refer to:

Akhtala (Gurjaani)

Akhtala (Georgian: ახტალა) is a historic mud-cure resort in Georgia, not far from the town of Gurjaani, Kakheti region, 120 km away from the nation’s capital Tbilisi. Located 412 meters above the sea level.

See also

External links

Coordinates: 41°45′N 45°47′E / 41.750°N 45.783°E / 41.750; 45.783