What is Lake Van?
[[Image:Van1 20 modified.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Lake Van]] '''Lake Van''' ({{lang-tr|Van Gölü}}, {{lang-hy|Վանա լիճ}}) is the largest [[lake]] in [[Turkey]], in the far east of the country. [[Akdamar Island]] is in this lake. Although Lake Van is at {{convert|1640|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[altitude]] with harsh winters, it does not freeze because it is very salty, except occasionally the shallow northern section.<ref> The New Encyclopædia Britannica, [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/622548/Lake-Van Lake Van]</ref> == History == The lake was the center of the [[Urartu|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 (Turkey)|Van city]]).<ref>''The Concise Encyclopædia of Archaeology'' – Page 488 by Leonard Cottrell – 1960</ref> Later the land around the lake was ruled by Armenians.<ref>''The Penguin Atlas of Diasporas'' – Page 77 by Jean-Pierre Rageau, Gérard Chaliand</ref> Along with [[Lake Sevan]] in today's [[Armenia]] and [[Lake Urmia]] in today's [[Iran]],<ref>''The Armenians'' – Page 12 by A. E. (Anne Elizabeth) Redgate</ref><ref>''The Ancient Kingdom of Urartu'' – Page 1 by David Frankel</ref> Van was one of the three great lakes of the Armenian Kingdom, referred to as ''the seas of [[Armenia]]''.<ref>''Turkey'' – Page 28 by Pat Yale</ref><ref>''Traditio'' – Page 7 by Institute of Research and Study in Medieval Canon Law</ref><ref>''The Encyclopedia Americana'' – Page 330 by Grolier Incorporated</ref> ==Related pages== *[[Arzashkun]] == References == {{commons cat}} {{Reflist}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Lakes of Asia|Van]] [[Category:Bodies of water of Turkey|Van]] [[Category:Marmara Region]]