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VAN
Van,
the ancient Urartian capital of Tuspa, tempts visitors to
its location on the eastern shore of the lake. This
remote but important city is set in a verdant oasis at
the foot of a rocky peak. An imposing 9th century B.C.
citadel overlooks the new and the old parts of town.
Steps carved in the rock lead to the Urartian fortress;
halfway up, inscriptions in cuneiform pay homage to
Xerxes. Within the fortress are several Urartian royal
rock tombs. In the old city, the Ulu Mosque, Hüsrev
Pasa Mosque, Kaya qelebi Mosque and the Ikiz Kümbets
reflect Seljuk and Ottoman architectural styles. Van's
interesting Archaeological Museum is in the new city,
inland from the uninhabited old district. Still very
much part of a traditional lifestyle, the women of Van
produce beautiful kilims woven in blue, red and white
patterns. The exotic Van cat, a protected animal, has
thick white fur and one blue and one green eye. At Van
iskelesi (Van Harbor), friendly tea gardens and
restaurants invite you for a break. Edremit, a holiday
resort centers 14 km to the southwest, has good
beaches, swimming and camping. In the same direction
is Gevas, where you can visit a Seljuk cemetery with
many decorated headstones. and the lovely Halime Hatun
Mausoleum.
LAKE VAN
Lake
Van, the largest lake in Turkey and at an altitude of
1,720 meters, is ringed by beautiful mountains: Mount
Süphan (4,058 meters) on the northwest side and the
ihtiyar Sahap Mountains to the south. You can circle
the lake, visiting several ancient Urartian sites as
well as others that represent the legacy of the
various peoples who have inhabited the area. Some of
the islands in Lake Van have monasteries and churches
built on them; no doubt the remote location offered
seclusion to the resident religious communities. 41km
southwest of Van, Akdamar Island (a half-hour sail
from shore) is the most important of these. On the
island stands the 10th century Church of the Holy
Cross, now a museum, whose stone outer walls are
richly carved with Old Testament scenes and figures.
After sightseeing, swimmers and picnickers can enjoy
themselves around the island's almond groves. If you
have time, visit Garpanak Island to enjoy its
landscape and to wander around the 12th century church,
which has now been converted into a museum.
AROUND VAN
Cavustepe, 35km from Van on the Hakkari road, is an
important Urartian citadel. Excavated in 1970, today
you can see temples, a palace, a sacrificial altar and
inscriptions. On the pastoral, winding road to
Hakkari, the Zernek Dam Lake offers itself as a
resting spot on the way to Hosap, 60km from Van, where
a 17th century fairytale castle rises above a small
hill. Although the inside is badly damaged, the
exterior walls, crenellations and turrets are well-preserved.
Among the interesting geographical features around
Lake Van, the Muradiye Waterfalls, 88 km north of Van,
with a peaceful tea garden and restaurants, and
Gahnispi-Beyaz Cesme Falls, 60km south of Van, are
worth visiting. The road to remote Hakkari, 203 km
southeast of Van, takes you through Cilo-Sat Mountains
and the Zap Valley. A medieval fortress some of
Turkey's most magnificent scenery dominates the city,
which is at an altitude of 1,700 meters.
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