The New International Encyclopædia/Van, Lake

VAN, Lake. The largest lake in Asiatic Turkey. It lies near the Persian and Russian boundaries, between Armenia and Kurdistan, and close to the sources of the Euphrates and Tigris, at an altitude of over 5000 feet (Map: Turkey in Asia, K 3). It is about 80 miles long and 10 to 50 miles wide, with an area of 1400 square miles. Its shores are very irregular, and the lake is surrounded by densely wooded mountains. It receives a few short streams, but has no outlet, its water being very salt. Near its eastern shore lies the town of Van.