Van is a city in eastern Turkey with a population of 380 000 (2001). It is the capital of the Van Province. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van.
Having the ancient name of Tushpa, it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC. The ancient local people called themselves Nairi. Later the area became once again a center during the reign of the Armenian king, Tigranes, who created the city of Tigranakert in the 1st century BC. The city, which was destroyed by Russian troops during the World War I, was rebuilt after the war, near the old city.
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