Van (Turkey)

Van is the area around Lake Van in eastern Turkey. Having the ancient name of Tushpa, it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom. The ancient local people called them selves Nairi. Later the area became once again a center during the reign of the Armenian king, Tigran who created the city of Tigranakert in first century BC. The city which was destroyed during the World War I was rebuilt after the war, near the old city.