# Van

> city in Turkey

**Wikidata**: [Q83061](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83061)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van,_Turkey)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/van

## Summary
Van is a metropolitan municipality and large city in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, historically significant as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan, with a population of approximately 1.1 million people as of 2023.

## Key Facts
- Van is classified as a metropolitan municipality and big city in Turkey
- The city has an area of 1,938 square kilometres
- Population was 353,419 in 2011 and 1,127,612 in 2023
- Coordinates are 38.50194444 latitude and 43.41666666 longitude
- Elevation is 1,730 metres above sea level
- Postal code is 65000 and license plate code is 65
- Timezone is UTC+03:00
- Country is Turkey (established as such in 1921)
- Located in Van Province within the Eastern Anatolia Region
- Capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and Kingdom of Vaspurakan
- Historical names include Tuspa, Dosp, Tospe, Tosbe, K'alak'n Samiramay, Samiramacém, Berdn Samirama, Tóspia, Buana, Cauom, Ibã, and various Arabic and Turkish names
- The city has a preserved historical site (Van Kalesi) and is twinned with Basel, Bursa, and Odesa
- Social media presence includes verified Twitter account (@vanbuyuksehirbb), Facebook page (VANBLD), Instagram (@vanbuyuksehirbb), and YouTube channel (vanbuyuksehirbelediyesi851)

## FAQs
- **What is the population of Van?** The population was 353,419 in 2011 and 1,127,612 as of 2023.
- **What is the area of Van?** Van covers an area of 1,938 square kilometres.
- **What is the elevation of Van?** The city is situated at 1,730 metres above sea level.
- **What is the timezone of Van?** Van operates on UTC+03:00 timezone.
- **What is the license plate code for vehicles in Van?** The license plate code is 65.
- **What is the postal code for Van?** The postal code is 65000.
- **What is the historical significance of Van?** Van served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan.
- **What is the official name of Van?** The official name is Van.
- **What region is Van located in?** Van is situated in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.
- **What is the capital of Van Province?** Van is the capital of Van Province.
- **What is the country where Van is located?** Van is located in Turkey.

## Why It Matters
Van holds significant historical importance as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan, representing a cultural and political center in the region for centuries. Its strategic location in Eastern Anatolia has made it a key urban center in modern Turkey, serving as a major economic and administrative hub in the Eastern Anatolia Region. The city's historical significance contributes to its cultural heritage and attracts tourism interested in ancient Armenian and Ottoman history.

## Notable For
- Van is distinguished as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan
- The city has preserved historical sites including Van Kalesi (Van Fortress)
- Van is twinned with Basel (Switzerland), Bursa (Turkey), and Odesa (Ukraine)
- The city has a significant population of approximately 1.1 million people
- Van has a verified social media presence across multiple platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
- The city has historical names in multiple languages reflecting its complex history and cultural influences

## Body
### History
Van has a rich historical background, serving as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan. The city has been part of various empires including the Ottoman Empire, with historical names including Tuspa, Dosp, Tospe, Tosbe, K'alak'n Samiramay, Samiramacém, Berdn Samirama, Tóspia, Buana, Cauom, Ibã, and various Arabic and Turkish names. The city was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1864 until 1922 when it became part of the modern Turkish state.

### Geography and Demographics
Van is situated in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, specifically in Van Province. The city has an area of 1,938 square kilometres and is located at coordinates 38.50194444 latitude and 43.41666666 longitude. The city's elevation is 1,730 metres above sea level. The population was 353,419 according to the 2011 census and 1,127,612 as of 2023. The city operates on UTC+03:00 timezone and uses the postal code 65000 with license plate code 65.

### Administration and Governance
Van is classified as a metropolitan municipality in Turkey. The head of government is Abdullah Zeydan as of 2024. The city has an official website (https://van.bel.tr/) and maintains social media presence including a verified Twitter account (@vanbuyuksehirbb), Facebook page (VANBLD), Instagram (@vanbuyuksehirbb), and YouTube channel (vanbuyuksehirbelediyesi851). The city is twinned with Basel, Bursa, and Odesa.

### Culture and Tourism
Van has historical significance as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia and the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan. The city features preserved historical sites including Van Kalesi (Van Fortress) and has been categorized under the "preserved" state of conservation. The city has an online presence across multiple platforms including Wikipedia (Van, Turkey), Commons (Van, Turkey), and various encyclopedias. The city's cultural heritage includes Armenian and Ottoman influences reflected in its historical names and monuments.

### Infrastructure and Communications
The city has various identifiers including WOEID 2344480, GND ID 4378894-4, VIAF ID 316429846, and UN/LOCODE TRVAN. The city has a social media following of approximately 45,238 followers on Twitter as of 2023. The city has a YouTube channel with over 386,451 views as of 2025. The city has been documented in various encyclopedias including The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition, and Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

### Historical Context
The city has been part of different administrative divisions throughout history, including Van eyalet (1548-1864), Ottoman Empire (1864-1875), Van vilayet (1875-1922), and modern Van Province (1922-present). The city has been described in various historical sources including Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, and Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. The city's historical significance is recognized by various institutions including the Library of Congress, National Library of Israel, and Archinform.

### Related Entities and Connections
Van is connected to various entities including:
- Kingdom of Armenia (ancient capital)
- Kingdom of Vaspurakan (medieval capital)
- Basel (Switzerland) - twinned administrative body
- Bursa (Turkey) - twinned administrative body
- Odesa (Ukraine) - twinned administrative body
- Various historical sources and encyclopedias
- Multiple social media platforms and online presence
- Geographic regions including Eastern Anatolia Region
- Administrative divisions including Van Province

### Transportation and Identification
The city has an inaturalist place ID of 106927 and museum digital place ID of 23463. The city has been documented in various databases including Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, Encyclopædia Britannica Online, and Great Russian Encyclopedia Online. The city's coordinates and elevation provide important geographical information for navigation and planning purposes.

## References

1. [Source](https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/abdullah-zeydan-of-dem-party-reinstated-as-mayor-of-van-72580)
2. archINFORM
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://rapor.tuik.gov.tr/reports/rwservlet?adnksdb2&ENVID=adnksdb2Env&report=wa_turkiye_ilce_koy_sehir.RDF&p_il1=65&p_kod=1&p_yil=2011&p_dil=1&desformat=html)
6. [Source](https://www.nufusune.com/van-nufusu)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. GeoNames
9. BBC Things
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/tr.htm)
11. YouTube API
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
13. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)