Nurak or Norak or 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, 69.225, belonging to the Russian Space Forces. The Okno is capable of tracking objects 40,000 kilometers (24,800 miles) 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.
Notes
Coordinates: 38°23′N, 69°19′E
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