In the times of ancient Greece it was known as Thospitis Lacus, or Arsissa Lacus, which is derived from the Urartian city of Van, or ancient Chauon. Lake Van (Van Golu in Turkish) is the largest lake in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East. It’s also the biggest sodium water lake in the world. The lake lies on the high grounds of Eastern Anatolian region near the border with Iran. It was formed by a crater caused by a volcanic explosion of Nemrud mount (last eruption in 1440 AD) near the province of Van. It covers an area of 1,434 square miles (3,713 square km) and is more than 74 miles (119 km) across at its widest point. It’s elevation from the sea level is 1,646 meters, deepest point is 457 meters. (more…)

The Eastern Anatolia Region is the largest geographical region in Turkey. It covers 21 percent of Turkey with a surface area of 163,000 km2. It is adjacent to the Black Sea, Central Anatolian, the Mediterranean and the Southeastern Anatolia Regions. It also has borders with Georgia, Armenia, Nakhichevan, Iran and Iraq.

The Eastern Anatolia Region is the highest and the most uneven region. The average altitude is around 2000 meters. The highest peaks in Turkey are located in this region. Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) is 5137 meters, the Resko Peak on Cilo Mountain is 4135 meters and Suphan Mountain is 4058 meters. The fact that Eastern Anatolia is high and mountainous and separated from the sea by mountain ranges causes the average annual temperatures to be low and the winters to be severe. The region is different from other regions from the aspect of the number of days it snows in the region and the number of days when the ground is covered with snow. In Kars and Erzurum Provinces, the number of days the ground is covered with snow is approximately 90 days a year. (more…)

The eastern part of the country is a unique region with striking natural richness. The Toros Mountains in the south, and the chain of Black Sea Mountains in the north, unite in the east and form the highest region of Turkey, which is different in both appearance and character, to the rest of Anatolia. This region has an unimaginable diversity. The high mountains provide excellent opportunities for mountaineering and winter sports in addition to their perfect landscapes. Mount Nemrut which has one of the most famous sunrises in the world, Mount Suphan, once an active volcano with its black basalt slopes and Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi), are all attractive places for hiking. The biblical Mount Ararat has been the destination of professional mountaineers for years the vast ochre plateau of Erzurum reaches a height of 1950 m while the forests add colour to the land scape. The waterfalls and meadows of Kars and Agri are exquisite destinations for those who want to discover the “unspoiled”. The deep blue waters of Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, completes the picture and you will find it a strange experience to swim in its “sodawaters”. The desertlike plains of high Mesopotamia lie here in contrast with the fertile valleys of the Tigris (Dicle) and Euphrates (Firat). (more…)