Ark of Bukhara

The Ark Fortress
Bukhara in Uzbekistan
Entrance to the Ark fortress
Ark Fortress in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The Ark Fortress
Coordinates	39°46′40″N 64°24′37″E / 39.77778°N 64.41028°E / 39.77778; 64.41028
Area	3.96 ha (9.8 acres)
Height	16 to 20 m (52 to 66 ft)
Site information
Condition	Restored
Site history
Built	5th century CE

The Ark of Bukhara is a massive fortress located in the city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, that was initially built and occupied around the 5th century AD. In addition to being a military structure, the Ark encompassed what was essentially a town that, during much of the fortress's history, was inhabited by the various royal courts that held sway over the region surrounding Bukhara. The Ark was used as a fortress until it fell to Russia in 1920. Currently, the Ark is a tourist attraction and houses museums covering its history.^[1] The museums and other restored areas include an archaeological museum, the throne room, the reception and coronation court, a local history museum, and the court mosque.^[2]