Play

Van

City in TürkiyeVan is in the far east of Türkiye, on the eastern shore of Lake Van, about 1,730 m above sea level, at the western foot of Mount Erek and not far from the border with Iran.

What it's known for

Under the name Tushpa, Van was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC, and Van Castle stands on a steep rock close to the edge of the lake. Across Türkiye the city is known for its breakfast culture.

Fun facts

  1. The Van cat, named after the town, is known for its white fur and for having eyes of different colours.
  2. The rock of Van Castle carries an inscription in three languages left by the Persian king Xerxes the Great in the 5th century BC.
  3. The name Van comes from Biaina, the name the Urartians used for their own land.

Finding it on the globe

Find Lake Van, the largest lake in Türkiye, in the far east of the country; the city is on its eastern shore, so tap the land just east of the water, toward Iran.

Sources: Wikipedia: Van, Turkey, Wikipedia: Lake Van