Van is a city in eastern Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border.

Van  area  was the center of the Urartian Kingdom. With the Seljuq victory at the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, just north of Lake Van , it became a part of Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire.

Lake Vanis the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest  endorheic (having no outlet). The original outlet from the basin was blocked by an ancient volcanic eruption. Although Lake Van is situated at an altitude of 1,640 m (5,380 ft) with harsh winters, it does not freeze due to its high salinity except occasionally the shallow northern section.