'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. IV. 1917' [‎228v] (461/530)

452
GAZETTEEE OF TOWNS
VAN. At the SE. corner of the Lake of the same name, about
70 m. E. of Bitlis. Pop. 30,000-40,000. T. (connexion before the
war with Bitlis and Diarbekr by a line along S. shore of lake: with
Mush via Arjish, Akhlat, and Melasgird : with Serai: with Bash
Qal'ah and Julamerk: with Dilman and Urmia).
Routes.—
(i) To Bitlis via S. shore of Lake Van. (See 89 a and b.)
(ii) To Bitlis via N. shore of Lake Van. (See Report
E.T.A., vol. ii, Boutes 73 and 86.) Passable for wheels.
(iii) To Sairt via Mukus and Pendaganz. (See 87 a.)
(iv) To Sairt via Qarasu and Pelo. (See 87 b.)
(v) To Shattakh. (See Eoutes 81 a, b.)
(vi) To Amadiyeh via Marwanen and Shlv Shalll. (See 79.)
(vii) To Eochaunes via Sekunis. (See 72.)
(viii) To Bash Qalah via Khoshab and Chukh. (See Routes 74a
and b. For continuation to Amadiyeh and Mosul see
Routes 69, 68 a and b, 67 a and b: for continuation to
Dilman see Route 76 : for continuation to Dlzeh and Urmia
see Routes 65, 61 a and b.)
(ix) To Dilman via Qotur and Khoi. (See 76 a and b.)
(x) For routes to Erzerum see JllilitcD'jj vol. ii.
(xi) For routes towards Eussian frontier see
E.T.A., vol. ii.
General Description. —The town of Van lies in a fertile plain which
slopes gently up from the Lake on the W. to the foot of the Varak
Dagh on the E., a distance of about 8 m. The highest summit of
the Varak Dagh is about 4,500 ft. above the plain. From N. to S.
the plain is about 5 m. broad, and on these sides it is bounded by
hills of no great height, over which several easy passes lead. From
this plain rise two isolated rocky masses, the citadel hill of Van,
and, some 2-3 m. to ENE., the Zemzem Dagh with its flat-topped
spur the Toprak Qal'ah, which overlooks the northernmost suburb
of the city.
The remarkable citadel rock of Van, which rises abruptly out ot
the plain, is some 1,100 yds. from the lake shore. Close under its
southern side lies the walled town, and E. and S. of this, again, aie
the extensive garden quarters which stretch eastwards for about
3* m., and southwards for about 1 m.
The following description of the town refers to its condition before
the war; the garden quarters were much damaged during fighting
between the Armenians and Turks in April-May 1915. Various
important buildings, such as the Turkish barracks and the British
Consulate, appear to have been wholly or partly destroyed, and the