Lake Van

Lake Van is a large saline soda lake in eastern Anatolia and the largest lake entirely within Turkey by surface area, noted for its islands and historical shores.

Lake Van’s basin has supported human settlement since antiquity; the lakeshore contains archaeological remains from Urartian, Armenian and later periods. Key monuments such as Van Fortress and island churches reflect this long sequence.

Located in eastern Turkey, the lake lies primarily in Van Province with the city of Van on its eastern shore and a landscape of high plateaus and surrounding mountains.

• Size and character: Largest lake in Turkey by surface area at about 3,755 square kilometres, characterised as a saline soda lake with no outlet to the sea.
• Akdamar access: Akdamar Island's 10th-century Church of the Holy Cross is accessible by boat in the tourist season and is the lake's most visited historic site.

What to See #

• Akdamar Island and Church: Akdamar Island features the medieval Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, a well-preserved 10th-century stone church renowned for its exterior relief carvings.
• Van Fortress: Van Fortress is a multi-period citadel on the lake's eastern shore with origins in the Urartian period and visible fortified walls dominating the city of Van.