Stepanakert

Stepanakert is the capital of Nagorno Karabakh. Stepanakert has a population of 50.000 people. It is the administrative, cultural and economic centre of Nagorno Karabakh. The name Stepanakert is dedicated to Stepan Shahumyan, who was an important figure of communist party in former Soviet Union.
As a settlement it developed at the beginning of the 19th century, near Varakn village, which is now situated in the city centre. Stepanakert is located in the eastern slope of Karabakh Mountains, and is 850 meters high above the sea level. The first plan of the city of Stepanakert was developed by the famous Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan.