VAN

TRAVEL TURKEY VAN
Lake Van, the lorgest take in Turkey and at an altitude of 1,720 meters, is ringed by beatiful mountains: Monut Süphan (4,058 meters) on the northwest side and the İhtiyar Şahap Mountains on the south. You can cincle the lake, visiting several ancient Urartion sites as well as others that represent the legacy of the various peoples who have inhabited the area. Some of the İslands in Lake Van have manasteries and churches built on them; no doubt the remote location offered seclusion to the resident religious communities. Forty-one kilpmeters southwest of Van Akdamar Island (a half-hour sail from shore) is the most important of these. On the Island stands the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross, now a museum, whose Stone other walls arebrichly carved with Old Testament scenes and figures. After sightseeing, swimmers and picnickers can enjoy themselves anound the Island’s almond groves. If you have time, visit Çarpanak Island to enjoy it’s landscape and to wonder around the 12th century church, which has no been converted ina museum.
Çavuştepe, 35 km from Van on the Hakkari road, is an important Urartion citadel. Excatrted in 1970, today you can see temples, a palace, a sacrifical atlar and inscriptions