- Turkish:
- Van Gölü
Lake Van
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What is Lake Van?
Lake Van, the largest body of water in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East, is situated in eastern Anatolia near the Iranian border. Known to ancient Greek geographers as Thospitis Lacus, or Arsissa Lacus, its modern Turkish name, Van Gölü, comes from Van, the capital of the Urartian kingdom that prospered on the lake’s eastern shore between the 10th and 8th centuries BCE.
This brackish lake, roughly triangular, occupies the lowest part of a vast basin bordered by high mountains, plateaus, mountains, and volcanic cones. A lava flow blocked westward drainage transforming the depression into a lake basin without an outlet. The lake is divided into two sections and is dotted with islands.
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Where is Lake Van located in Turkey?
Lake Van, the largest body of water in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East, is situated in eastern Anatolia near the border of Iran. The lake occupies the lowest part of a vast basin bordered by high mountains to the south, plateaus and mountains to the east, and a complex of volcanic cones to the west. Known to ancient Greek geographers as Thospitis Lacus, its modern Turkish name, Van Gölü, comes from Van, the capital of the Urartian kingdom that prospered on the lake’s eastern shore.
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How big is Lake Van compared to other lakes in Turkey?
Lake Van, with an area of 1,434 square miles (3,713 square km), is the largest body of water in Turkey. It is more than 74 miles (119 km) across at its widest point. Turkey has about 50 lakes with areas larger than four square miles and more than 200 smaller ones. The second largest lake in Turkey is Lake Tuz, which is about 600 square miles (1,550 square km). The largest freshwater lakes in Turkey include Lakes Akşehir, Eğridir, and Beyşehir.
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What makes the water in Lake Van different from other lakes?
Lake Van's water differs from other lakes due to its unique geographical setting and chemical composition. It is the largest body of water in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East. The lake is located in an enclosed basin bordered by high mountains and volcanic cones. A lava flow during the Pleistocene Epoch blocked its westward drainage, creating a basin without an outlet.
The lake's brackish waters are high in sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate, making it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. This saline environment only allows the darekh to thrive. Lake Van has three temperature zones in the summer and experiences seasonal water-level variations. Its high salinity prevents it from freezing completely in winter.
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What types of animals or plants can be found in and around Lake Van?
Lake Van, the largest body of water in Turkey, is located in eastern Anatolia near the Iranian border. The lake's brackish waters are not suitable for drinking or irrigation. Consequently, the only animal life in Lake Van is the darekh, a freshwater fish related to the European bleak that has adapted to the saline environment. The lake is fed by rainfall, meltwater, and rivers such as the Bendimahi, Zilan, Karasu, and Micinger.
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Why is Lake Van important historically and culturally to Turkey?
Lake Van holds historical and cultural significance for Turkey, with its modern Turkish name, Van Gölü, derived from Van, the capital of the ancient Urartian kingdom that thrived on the lake's eastern shore between the 10th and 8th centuries BCE. The city of Van, situated on the lake's eastern shore, was occupied by various powers, including the Medes, Persians, and Romans, before being annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1543. Today, Lake Van is the largest body of water in Turkey and a growing tourist destination.
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Lake Van, lake, largest body of water in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East. The lake is located in the region of eastern Anatolia near the border of Iran. It covers an area of 1,434 square miles (3,713 square km) and is more than 74 miles (119 km) across at its widest point. Known to the ancient Greek geographers as Thospitis Lacus, or Arsissa Lacus, its modern Turkish name, Van Gölü, is derived from Van, or Chauon, the name of the capital of the Urartian kingdom that flourished on the lake’s eastern shore between the 10th and 8th centuries bce. Roughly triangular in shape, the lake lies in an enclosed basin; its brackish waters are unsuitable for either drinking or irrigation. The salt water allows for no animal life save the darekh (related to the European bleak, a small soft-finned river fish of the carp family), a freshwater fish that has adapted to a saline environment.
Lake Van occupies the lowest part of a vast basin bordered by high mountains to the south, by plateaus and mountains to the east, and by a complex of volcanic cones to the west. At some time during the Pleistocene Epoch (i.e., about 2,600,000 to 11,700 years ago), a lava flow from the Nemrut volcano extended for nearly 37 miles (60 km) across the southwestern end of the basin, blocking westward drainage to the Murat River and thereby transforming the depression into a lake basin without outlet.
Lake Van is divided into two sections; the main body of water is separated from its much shallower northern extension by a narrow passage. Its shores are generally steep and lined with cliffs; the southern shore is extremely sinuous and eroded. The waters are dotted with islands, including Gadir, the largest, in the north; Çarpanak in the east; and Aktamar and Atrek in the south. The main body of the lake to the south is much deeper than its northern section, with the greatest depths exceeding 330 feet (100 meters).
Lake Van’s catchment area exceeds 5,790 square miles (15,000 square km); it forms the largest interior basin of Turkey except for that of the central Anatolian region. The lake is fed by rainfall and meltwater as well as by several tributaries, notably the Bendimahi and Zilan rivers, which flow in from the north, and the Karasu and Micinger rivers, which enter the lake from the east. Lake Van experiences a seasonal variation of its water level of about 20 inches (50 cm) per year. It is lowest during the winter months and begins to rise after the spring thaw. With the arrival of additional water from the melted snows of the surrounding mountains, the lake rises to its highest level in July.
The lake has three distinct temperature zones in summer, consisting of an upper layer of warm water, a lower region of cold water, and an intermediate transitional layer. During the winter the surface cools quickly; occasionally the shallow northern sector freezes over. Freezing of the entire lake is retarded by its high salinity. The most abundant salts in the lake are sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate.
A regular passenger boat service plies the lake between the coastal towns; there is a small shipyard at Tuğ on the southwestern shore.