Van Air Base, Turkey
38°28'N 43°20'E

Van the ancient Urartian's capital city of Tuspa, tempest visitors to its location on the easthern shore of the lake. This remote but important city is set in a verdant oasis at the foot of a rocky peak. An imposing 9th-century B.C. citadel overlooks the new and the old parts of town. Steps carved in the rock lead to the Urartian Fortress; halfway up, inscription in unique form pay homage to Xerxes. Within the fortress are several Urartian royal rocks tombs. In the old city, the Ulu Mosque, Husrev Pasa Mosque and Ikiz Kumbets reflect Seljuk and Ottoman architectural styles. Van's interesting Archaeological Museum is in the new city, inland from the uninhabited old district. Still very much part of a traditional lifestyle, the Women of Van produce beautiful Kilims woven in the blue, red and white patterns. The exotic Van Cat, a protected animal has thick white fur and one blue and one green eye. Around Van Lake specially 14 km to southwest, has good beaches, swimming and camping. In the same direction is Gevas, where you can visit a Seljuk Cemetery with many decorated headstones, and the lovely Halime Hatun Museum. Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey and at an altitude of 1,750 meters, is ringed by beautiful mountains.