Lake Van

Lake Van, also known as the Van Sea because of its 3760 square km area, is approximately 7.6 times larger than Lake Constance. The lake originated in the Tertiary period when the east Anatolian high plateau folded and formed a depression which then filled with water. Its present shape was formed when the Nemrut volcano on the western shore erupted and the lava flow divided the lake floor in two.
Lake Van is an enclosed soda lake, without outlet rivers, with a high potassium and sodium salt content. Characteristic of the lake is the Lake Van carp which swim up the freshwater feeder rivers in their thousands to spawn. Three further fish types have been discovered in recent times. Numerous rivers and streams flow into the lake.
The lake is fringed to the west by a few aspen woods, but is otherwise surrounded by steppe and mountains over 4000m high. The area is thinly populated, only Van itself has developed into a city.
The region has a continental climate. In winter it often snows, in the spring it often rains, sometimes heavily, until June. July and August are dry months. Because of its altitude, it never gets too hot.

Our Holiday Resort Lake Van

... which was originally built similarly to a Kurdish camp – stands on a small peninsula with sand and pebble beaches. Nearby is a small freshwater lake rich in bird life.
The holiday chalets are built in keeping with the style of the local villages. Altogether there are six chalets with 12 ensuite rooms, each with a covered terrace and a view of the lake.

Birding Lake Van

The numerous varieties of rare water and high mountain birds makes the areas surrounding Lake Van an absolute ‘eldorado’ for every ornithologist. With a little bit of luck you might even manage to catch a glimpse of the rare Demoiselle Crane which sometimes makes an appearance in this area. In May and June 2006 our ornithology group could, as well as others, add to their bird list: Pygmyn Cormorant, White-headed Duck, Bearded Vulture, Black Vulture, Saker, Spur-winged Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Armenian Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Black-billied Sandgrouse, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Shore Lark, Citrine Wagtail, White-throated Robin, Isabelline Wheatear, Finsch`s Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Paddyfield Warbler, Upcher´s Warbler, Mountain Chiffchaff, Eastern Rock Nuthatch, Lesser Grey Shrike, Alpine Chough, Chough, Rose-coloured Starling, Rock Sparrow, Pale Rock Sparrow, Snowfinch, Red-fronted Serin, Twite, Scarlet Rosefinch, Mongolian Trumpeter Finch, Crimson-winged Finch, Grey-necked Bunting.

Ornitour Lake Van / Ararat