Eastern Anatolia Region

From Turkey Travel Guide

Eastern Anatolia Region

[edit] Location

Eastern Anatolia Region is located in the east part of Turkey, having borders with Georgia, Armenia and Iran. This is the biggest Region of the country. It is surrounded by Black Sea Region on the north, Central Anatolia Region and Mediterranean Region on the west, and the Southeastern Anatolia Region on the south. The eastern part is out of Turkey.

[edit] Provinces

• Ağrı
• Ardahan
• Bingöl
• Bitlis
• Elazığ
• Erzincan
• Erzurum
• Hakkari
• Iğdır
• Kars
• Malatya
• Muş
• Tunceli
• Van

[edit] Geography

Eastern Anatolia is the largest Region of Turkey, amassing about 21% of the area of the country. The area is nearly 163,000 km2. The average altitude is 2200m, with geographical features including plateaus, plains, and massifs. With Mount Ararat residing in the region, there are now reports of small volcanic activity.

[edit] Climate

The Eastern Anatolia Region is far from the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, and has a high altitude that causes winters to be long a summers to be short. Winter season is often very cold and snowy, while the summer is cool in the highlands and warm in the lowlands. It is also known as the coldest region of Turkey, with an average low of -25°C.

The region is also highly forested, being roughly 11% of the total forested area of Turkey.

[edit] Places to See

Lake Van: This is the largest lake in Turkey, and is of historical importance to Turkish, Armenian, and Greek communities. The lake was the capital of the Armenian kingdom of Ararat dating back as far as 1000 BC. It then was transformed into the Satrapy of Armina, Kingdom of Greater Armenia, and the Armenian Kingdom of Vaspurakan. Today, the lake holds the sites of several Armenian monuments, including a castle, monastery, and cemeteries.

Mount Ararat: Is the great mountain of the region and near-eastern world, reaching an altitude of almost 17,000 feet. It is most notably known for being the landmark of Noah's Ark, with exhibitions done constantly. It is absolutely breathtaking, as it overlooks the surrounding cities and territories.

Ishak Pasa Palace: The Ishak Pasha palace is an Ottoman constructed palace which dates back to 1685. It was the second administrative center after the Topkapi Palace. A center for the Beyazit city, it's located on the mountain side east of Dogubeyazit. Today, it stands as one of the greatest examples of eighteen-century Ottoman architecture, and is a rare example of Turkey's historical palaces.

Çifte Minareli Medrese: Located in the city of Erzurum, it is an amazing architectural monument dating back to the Seljuk period. Built as a school of theology around 1271 by Queen Cüveyni Mehmed Semsettin, its name derives from the twin minarets, which stand strong in the front. The twin minarets are ornamented with bricks and tiles, and contrasts from the typical pointy Ottoman style minarets.