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.