Lake Van

Lake Van (, , ) is the largest lake in Turkey, in the far east of the country.

Akdamar Island is in this lake. Although Lake Van is at  altitude with harsh winters, it does not freeze because it is very salty, except occasionally the shallow northern section. The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Lake Van

 History 
The lake was the center of the Urartian kingdom from about 1000 BC, and the capital of Urartu, Tushpa, was on the shore of Lake Van (on the site of the medieval castle of Van, west of Van city). It then came under the control of the Medes.The Concise Encyclopædia of Archaeology – Page 488 by Leonard Cottrell – 1960

Later the land around the lake was ruled by Armenians.The Penguin Atlas of Diasporas – Page 77
by Jean-Pierre Rageau, Gérard Chaliand Along with Lake Sevan in today's Armenia and Lake Urmia in today's Iran,The Armenians – Page 12 by A. E. (Anne Elizabeth) RedgateThe Ancient Kingdom of Urartu – Page 1 by David Frankel Van was one of the three great lakes of the Armenian Kingdom, referred to as the seas of Armenia.Turkey – Page 28 by Pat YaleTraditio – Page 7 by Institute of Research and Study in Medieval Canon LawThe Encyclopedia Americana – Page 330 by Grolier Incorporated

Related pages
Arzashkun

 References 

Van
Van
Category:Marmara Region