The Yerevan Physics Institute was founded in 1942 as a branch of Yerevan State University by brothers Academicians Abraham Alikhanov and Artem Alikhanian on 300,000 square meters in Yerevan. A year later it was turned over to the Armenian Academy of Sciences. Later two high-altitude Cosmic Ray Stations were founded on Mount Aragats (3,200 m) and Nor Amberd.