Van Lake is the biggest lake of
Turkey formed by the blocking of the lava vomited by
Mount Nemrut the old exit of the lake in direction of the
Muş plain. There are 4 islands in the lake some small, some big. These islands,
Ahlat reed bed,
Dönemeç Delta,
Karasu Delta,
Bendimahi delta and the freshwater
Nurşun Lake covered with reed beds in the north of the lake are important places for birds in
Van Lake.
The Summer Ducks brooding in the reed beds of
Van Lake, the bustards breeding on the peninsula in the west of the lake, the
Van Lake doves brooding in the islands and the pearl mullet which is fish species specific to
Van lake make
Van Lake one of the wetlands of international importance.
Van Castle is situated within the boundaries of the province of
Van at a distance of 5 km to the city center. It is one of the most glorious castles built by
Urartus .
Sarduri I, son of
Lutupri has the castle built in the 9th century BC. On the structure called
Sardur Tower made of stone blocks standing of the northwest end of the Castle a major part of which is well preserved up to the present day there stands the oldest known Urartu inscription written with
Assyrian cuneiform writing. Another important structure of the castle is the carve tomb of
Agrishti and the longest inscription of the
Urartus, namely the “
Horhor Inscriptions” on the rock next to the tomb. Also there are the open air temple of
Sarduri II on the northern side of the castle and tombs of
Menau and
Sarduri,
caves,
cisterns and various rooms inside the castle. In the south of the castle there are the remnants of the old city.
Grand Mosque,
Hüsrev Paşa Mosque,
Kay Çelebi Mosque,
Baths (
Double Baths), the
Cupolas (
Double Cupolas) and old houses many of which are destroyed make the visitors travel between the pages of the history. The carve tomb, the mosques, the cuneiform writings, Madır tower, the walls and the
Van House aside are worth to visit.
