[en] The detector ARGUS has been designed as a universal tool to investigate final states from e⁺e^- annihilation processes in the energy range of the Υ resonances. ARGUS started operation in October 1982 and has since successfully taken data at the Υ(1S), Υ(2S) and Υ(4S) energies, and in the nearby continuum. The detector combines excellent charged particle identification and good photon energy resolution over more than 90% of the full solid angle. A particle originating from the interaction vertex and leaving the beam tube traverses the following components: The vertex drift chamber, the main drift chamber which determines its momentum and specific ionization, the time-of-flight system through which its velocity is determined, and the electromagnetic calorimeter. Muons pass through the magnet coils and the flux return yoke and finally hit the muon chamber system which surrounds the detector. The momentum resolution of ARGUS is σ(p_T)/p_T = (0.01²+(0.009p_T[GeV/c])²)^1/2, and the photon energy resolution in the barrel shower counters is σ(E)/E = (0.072²+0.065²/E[GeV])^1/2. Combining the information from all particle identification devices, more than 80% of all charged hadrons can be recognized unambiguously. The electron-hadron and muon-hadron rejection rates are 1:200 and 1:50 respectively. (orig.)