📖 About Van

Van is a major city in eastern Turkey on the shores of Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake and the world's largest soda lake. With approximately 530,000 residents, this ancient city was the center of the Urartian civilization (9th-6th century BC) and has been home to Armenian, Persian, and Turkish cultures.

The city is famous for the Van cat (known for different-colored eyes) and the stunning natural beauty of the lake. Mount Süphan and Mount Ararat dominate the horizon. Van represents eastern Turkey—ancient Urartian heritage, Kurdish and Turkish cultures, and dramatic landscapes.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Agriculture includes livestock and crops suited to the harsh climate. Government services employ many in this provincial capital. Education includes a university. Tourism is developing around the lake. Border trade with Iran was historically important.

Kurdish and Turkish cultures coexist—Turkish is official, Kurdish widely spoken. Islam predominates. Traditional crafts continue. Van breakfast is famous throughout Turkey. Music includes regional forms. The culture values hospitality, tradition, and regional identity.

📜 History

The Urartian kingdom made Van (Tushpa) its capital in the 9th century BC. Persian, Armenian, Arab, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule followed. The city had a significant Armenian population until WWI events.

The 2011 earthquake devastated the region. Recovery continues. Today Van offers—Urartian heritage, spectacular lake, and the distinctive character of Turkey's Kurdish-majority east.