Van Province, Administrative province in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
This first-level division sits in eastern Anatolia between a large highland lake and the Iranian border. It contains thirteen administrative districts spread across rolling terrain marked by mountains and broad plains.
This territory formed the heart of the kingdom of Urartu in the 9th century BC. It later became part of the Ottoman realm and was organized as a modern Turkish administrative unit in 1926.
The name comes from the Urartian language and recalls an ancient royal city once located here. Markets today echo mainly with Kurdish speech, while teahouses and bakeries serve local treats such as herby white cheese enjoyed at breakfast.
An airport with daily connections sits northwest of the capital city and links the area to other Turkish cities. Travelers using coaches should allow extra hours for mountain roads, especially during winter months.
The Turkish highland lake reaches a depth of 170 meters (558 feet) and remains ice-free even in winter due to its high salt content. The cat breed named after this region often shows two different eye colors.
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