Van

 

(vän) , city (1990 pop. 153,525), capital of Van prov., E Turkey, near the eastern shore of Lake Van, at an altitude of 5,659 ft (1,725 m). It is the trade center for a fruit- and grain-growing region. Van was the cradle of an ancient Armenian civilization. It was the capital of the old Vannic kingdom of Urartu or Ararat. The city fell to the Seljuk Turks (1071) and to the Ottoman Turks in 1543. Near the city is the mound of Toprakkale where excavations in the 19th cent. uncovered the remains of the town of Urartu. Many tablets with so-called Vannic inscriptions relating to early Armenian history were found. In 1939 archaeologists discovered fortifications and various materials dating from the 8th cent. B.C. Many of the Armenians living in the region were massacred by the Turks in 1895.

Lake Van
From space, September 1996
Coordinates	38°38′N 42°49′ECoordinates: 38°38′N 42°49′E
Lake type	saline lake
Basin countries	Turkey
Surface area	3,755 km²
Max depth	451 m
Surface elevation	1719 m

Lake Van (Turkish: Van Gölü; Armenian: Վանա լիճ; Kurdish: Gola Wanê) is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country. It is a saline lake of volcanic origin with no outlet, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. It is 119 km across at its widest point, averaging a depth of 171 meters with a maximum depth of up to 451 meters. It has an area of 3,755 km² and is 1719 meters above sea level. The shore length of the lake is 430 kilometers.

The lake's outlet was blocked at some time during the Pleistocene, when lava flows from Nemrut volcano blocked westward outflow towards the Mus Plain. Now dormant, Nemrut Dağı is close to the western shore of the lake, and another dormant stratovolcano, Süphan Dağı (Armenian Nekh Masik (Նեխ Մասիք), Tsipan (Ծիպան), Sipan (Սիփան)), dominates the northern side of the lake. The water level of the lake has often altered dramatically: near Tatvan, Oswald (see Geology of Armenia, 1901) noted a raised beach high above the present level of the lake as well as recently drowned trees. The level of the lake rose by at least three metres during the 1990s, drowning much agricultural land, and (after a brief period of stability and then retreat) seems to be rising again.

Its water is strongly alkaline and rich in sodium carbonate and other salts, which are extracted by evaporation and used as detergents. Chalcalburnus tarichi (inci kefali)^[1] a species of herring caught during the spring floods, spawns near the mouths of streams feeding the lake and is the only fish that can survive in the brackish water.

The lake is surrounded by fruit and grain-growing agricultural areas.

Cultural history

The lake was the centre of the kingdom of Urartu from about 1000 BC and afterwards of the Armenian Kingdom. The capital of Urartu, Tushpa, was on the shore of Lake Van (on the site of the medieval castle of Van, west of Van city).^[2]. The ruins of the medielval city of Van are still clearly visible under the southern slopes of Van Rock on which Van Castle iis located (Van Kalesi)

Along with Lake Sevan in today's Armenia and Lake Urmia in today's Iran, Van was one of the three great lakes of the Armenian Kingdom, referred to as the seas of Armenia. Along its shores and on several islands (Arter, Lim, Charpanak, etc.) the remains of Armenian churches and monasteries can be found. The best preserved is the tenth-century Church of the Holy Cross (Armenian Սուրբ Խաչ, Surb Khach, scientific transliteration Surb xač') located on Akdamar Island. It was built by architect Manuel by the order of Gagik Artzruni, king of Armenian Vaspurakan kingdom between 915 and 921. It served as a royal church within the king's residence in the medieval town that once existed on the island. Reliefs on it's external walls represent Biblical stories such as Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath, etc.

Other important historical monuments include Van Kalesi (Castle of Van) on the Lake's eastern shore. The modern city of Van is located to the east of this castle.

The Lake Van region is also the home of the rare Van Kedisi breed of cat, noted for among other things its unusual fascination with water (a very rare trait among cats, which generally dislike being immersed in water).

Since about 1995 there have been reported sightings of a 'Lake Van monster' about 15 metres in length named Van Canavarı. Unal Kozak, a teaching assistant at Van University, has interviewed about a thousand people who claim to have seen the monster, and has written a book on the subject. Sceptics point out that the region would benefit from tourist revenue and a hoax might attract visitors.^[3]

Railways

The railway connecting Turkey and Iran built in the 1970s uses a train ferry across Lake Van between the cities Tatvan and Van, rather than building railway tracks around the rugged shore line. Transfer from train to ship and back again limits the total carrying capacity.

See also

• List of lakes in Turkey
• Lake Van Monster

References

External links

• Van Lake
• Description of Lake Van
• Pictures of Lake Van
• All About Turkey - Lake Van
• Largest known microbialites discovered in Lake Van, Turkey
• High Resolution Pictures of Van Castle

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