Historical castle revealed as Lake Van recedes
With the recession of the lake in Çelebibağı Neighborhood of Van’s Erciş district, the historical castle and ruins built by the Urartu Kingdom emerged.
In Çelebibağ Neighborhood of Van’s Erciş district, the historical Erciş Castle, which was flooded by the recession of more than 6 kilometers in Lake Van due to the drought in the region, has come to light. The ruins of the castle, which was built on the shore of Lake Van during the Urartu Kingdom and was repaired and used during the Ottoman period, remain under water.
Researcher-journalist Nihat Çavuşoğlu, who photographed the castle that emerged with the recession of the lake, said that the historical Erciş Castle emerged due to the drought.
Explaining that he had previously come to the region by boat to take photographs, but after the waters receded 6 kilometers, he came to the same region by car and photographed the castle, Çavuşoğlu said, “I have been a journalist in the district for about 40 years. In the 1990s, with the rise of Lake Van, the historical Erciş Castle was flooded. At that time, we often came here on boats to photograph the castle. Now we came to the area by car with some photography enthusiasts. I photographed the castle and informed my friends about its history. It is said that this castle has a thousand years of history. When I came here 30 years ago, this castle was in the middle of the lake, now it has completely come to light.”
Historical castle revealed as Lake Van recedes
