This land has witnessed the passing of tribes since earliest times. The medieval fortress reflects the history of this small region and is worth seeing, together with the Medresse standing nearby. Iran borders it on the east and Iraq on the south. Mostly mountainous, it is the most sparsely populated and isolated il in Turkey. Cropland is scarce, and the proportion of land under cultivation is among the nation's lowest.
Livestock raising is the main activity.
The largely Kurdish population is semi-nomadic, moving to higher summer pastures in season.