The world's longest ropeway will open on Saturday in southern Armenia, the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia has said.
The 5.7-kilometer (3.54-mile) ropeway will run to the 9th century Monastery of Tatev in Syunik Province, some 280 kilometers (174 miles) away from Yerevan.
The monastery, which has played an important role in the history of the region, being its major spiritual, political, cultural and educational center, was seriously damaged during an earthquake in 1931 and is now being reconstructed. The cost of the reconstruction is estimated at $45 million.
Visitors will have to spend just 11 minutes in a ropeway cabin to reach a promontory located more than 100 meters above the Vorotan River, on which the monastery is situated. The ropeway will run with the maximum speed of 37 km/h (23 mph).
Previously, a 4-kilometer-long (2.48-mile-long) ropeway in the United States' Santa Fe was the longest in the world.
Armeninan President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church and other religious and state officials are expected to take part in the opening ceremony of the ropeway.
YEREVAN, October 16 (RIA Novosti)