Trip Planner: Europe / Turkey / Van Province / Van / Lake Van

Lake Van, Van

4.6

#2 of 14 in Things to do in Van

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in the provinces of Van and Bitlis. 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 lakes . The original outlet from the basin was blocked by an ancient volcanic eruption. Although Lake Van is situated at an altitude of 1640m in a region with harsh winters, its high salinity prevents most of it from freezing, and even the shallow northern section is only occasionally an exception.Hydrology and chemistryLake Van is across at its widest point, averaging a depth of 171m with a maximum recorded depth of 451m. The lake surface lies 1640m above sea level and the shore length is 430km. Lake Van has an area of 3755km2 and a volume of.The western portion of the lake is deepest, with a large basin deeper than 400m lying northeast of Tatvan and south of Ahlat. The eastern arms of the lake are shallower. The Van-Ahtamar portion shelves gradually, with a maximum depth of about 250m on its northwest side where it joins the rest of the lake. The Erciş arm is much shallower, mostly less than 50m, with a maximum depth of about 150m.The lake water is strongly alkaline (pH 9.7–9.8) and rich in sodium carbonate and other salts, which are extracted by evaporation and used as detergents.

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Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

157 reviews

pochan42

August 15, 2017

Van gölü uçsuz bucaksız görünür uçaktan bakmak bir başka güzel kışın etrafındaki dağlar bembeyaz ortasında bir mavi su görülmeye değerdir van merkezde iseniz Edremit tarafına gitmenizi tavsiye ederim ... more »

Look at the vast Lake Van, visible from the plane is another good in the middle of the mountains around the winter white is a blue water is worth a visit if you are in the center of van, I suggest you go to the side of the Edremit typically resemble the Aegean coast as close range bosnalı is beautiful Erciş

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Diyar D

August 12, 2017

Kilometrelerce sahili ve berrak suyuyla Doğu Anadolu bölgesinin denizidir. Suyu sodali ama tam deniz suyu gibi rahatsiz etmiyor ve rahatca yuzebiliyorsunuz. Yalniz ağza kaçınca mide bulantısı yapabili... more »

Miles of coast and is in the region of Eastern Turkey with crystal clear water. Water as sea water, but doesn't bother full sodali and smoothly you can face. When the mouth can make nausea alone

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gulcigit

August 11, 2017

Van Gölü, Türkiye'nin en büyük gölü olması yönüyle önemli. Çevresindeki doğal ve beşeri güzelliklerin değerlendirilmesiyle ilerde daha çok katkı sağlayacak potansiyele sahip bir yer.. Kıymetini bileli... more »

Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey is important across the Board. The surrounding natural and human beauty will contribute more in the future with the evaluation of potential.. Appreciate it, let us know..

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