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Başkale
Başkale
Area
• Total	2,599 km2 (1,003 sq mi)
Elevation	2,460 m (8,070 ft)
Population (2000)
• Total	55,563
Area code	(0090)+ 432
Website	www.baskale.gov.tr

Başkale (Kurdish; Elbak, Armenian; Albayrak,) is a town in south-eastern Turkey in Van Province. Başkale was called as Elbak and was the capital town of the Elbak kaza of Hakkarisanjak in Vilayet of Van of Ottoman Empire.^[1] After the constitution of republic of Turkey at 1923, name was changed as Başkale and district status was given as a part of Van Province

There is one municipality in district, in center town which is established 1937. Başkale town has neighbourhoouds as; Tepebaşı,Yeni mahalle.Camii-Kebir, Samandöken, Cevkan, Kale, Hafiziye, Tarım and Yakınyol.

Geography

Başkale is situated at the 20 km west of the Turkey-Iran state border. 138 km of state border is in Başkales' area. Başkale is surrounded with state border at east and northeast, Yüksekova district of Hakkari Province at south, Saray and Özalp districts of Van Province at north, Gürpınar district of Van Province at west. Başkale has majorly a mountainous area of 2599 km2. Agricultural area is only 355 km2 that ~15% of total area.

Başkale is situated 2460 metres above sea level, in the valley of the Great Zab River, the town stands on the eastern slope of the south eastern Taurus Mountains range.

Başkale is surrounded by (Yiğit mount)/Haravil mount (3468 m) at east, Başkale mount/İspiriz mount ( 3668 m.) at west and Gökdağ mount (3604 m.) south east. Mor , Herevil, Mengene and Çekvan mounts are in the district areas.

Başkale has;Nebirnav, Kevçikan, Hanasor, Çekvan, Aşkitan (Ülya), Perihan, Meydan, Harinan, Terazın, Sülav, Medgezeren, Pistekan, Herevil-Şirez, Derevan, Derik, Bağarük, Düava and Mengen plateaus and,Zapsuyu and Karasu rivers in its area.

Plant cover

There is no forest in Başkale district. Trees( mainly poplar) can be seen only areas near settlements. There are pastures in flat areas and grasslands in some mountainous areas.

Climate

Owing to the high elevation, the winter is extremely severe and the summer very brief.

Summer temperature is about 17-25 C and winter temperature is min. –30 C. Average temperature is 5.8 C.

Average number of snowy days is 140 /per year.

Transportation

Başkale is not on railroad network. Nearest airport is in Van. Başkale is on the state road between Van and Hakkari. Transportation is supplied (between Başkale and Van) by intercity busses. Road network is established between Başkale and villages(total 720 km). The road to Albayrak village is asphalt while others are stabilized earth roads

History

City firstly settled by Parthians as a border city. 1st century BCE. Armenian King Tigranes took control of the area for a short period.Controlling of the area exchanged between Parthians and Roman Empire. At 3st century Sassanid Empire took control of area fromRoman Empire. After division of Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire took control at 6st century . At 645 Arabs took control of the area for a short period then Byzantine Empire was continue to controlling the area by Vaspurakan lords. After Battle of Malazgirt at 1071, control passed to Seljuk Empire. After 1100, Ahlatshah beylik (Sökmenoğulları) controlled the area. After a short period Ayyubids control, and Mongols attack at 1245, region controlled by Anatolian Seljuks, İlhanlılar, and Timur. After Timur at 1386 Karakoyunlular, at the beginning of XVI.century Safavids took control. When the Yavuz Sultan Selim beated Safavids in Battle of Çaldıran, Van and surrounding area was included in Ottoman Empire. After Battle of Çaldıran, control passed to Safavids 2-3 times. During the period of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, at 1548, Ottoman Empire took final control of the area. Başkale was occupated by Armenian militias by the support of Russian army at 02 December 1915 for a three years. During the socialist revolt, Russian army was withdrawed back with the armenian militias and then at 22 April 1918 Turkish militias took control of the city.

Demography and Population

The population of Başkale is given as 14,114 in town and 55,563 total district (2000 census). Approximately ~80% of district population speaks different Kurdish dialects. ^[2] Population structure shows an tribal construction, tribes and their percentage share of population is given in the table;

Demograhy
Tribe	Percantage
Ertuşi	40%
Merziki	30%
Botan	15%
Pinyaniş	15%

Population
Years	Town	Villages	Total
2000	14,114	41,449	55,563
1997	15,070	34,606	49,676
1990	16,418	39,179	55,597
1985	10,615
1980	9,770
1975	8,558
1970	6,018
1965	4,007
1960	2,383

Villages

Villages of Başkale district,Van Province
Açıkağıl \| Akçalı \| Albayrak \| Aşağıküme \| Aşalan \| Atlılar \| Aydemir \| Azıklı \| Barış \| Başkale \| Belencik \| Beşocak \| Bilgeç \| Böğrüpek \| Bölekli \| Büklümdere \| Çakırdoğan \| Çaldıran \| Dereiçi \| Deringeçit \| Ekecek \| Erek \| Erkonağı \| Esenyamaç \| Eşmepınar \| Gedikbaşı \| Gelenler \| Güleçler \| Güroluk \| Güvendik \| Ilıcak \| Işıklı \| Kaşkol \| Kavurgalı \| Keçilioba \| Kızılca \| Kocaköy \| Koçdağı \| Konuksayar \| Kovalıpınar \| Köprüağzı \| Mahmutabat \| Oğulveren \| Ortayazı \| Ortayol \| Ömerdağı \| Öncüler \| Örencik \| Örenkale \| Özpınar \| Saçan \| Sallıdere \| Savaşköy \| Tahılköy \| Tınazlı \| Uğurlu \| Yanal \| Yavuzlar \| Yolmaçayır \| Yukarıdallı \| Yukarıdarıca \| Yukarıdikmen \| Yurttepe

Health services

There is one hospital and 5 clinics at Başkale district, with a total; 21 doctors and 36 health officiers(midwife, nurse, health technician) in charge of health service in district.

Başkale Hospital; in Başkale town
Başkale center clinic; in Başkale town
Albayrak village clinic; is in Albayrak village
Çaldıran village clinic;is in Çaldıran village
Eşmepınar village clinic; in Eşmepınar village

Economy

Stockbreeding is dominant in the economy of Başkale district. Smugling also is a widespread activity in border areas. There is no industrial activities except small workshops. There was a Marble production plant at Koçdağı village, but in 2001 was closed after some test production. Distribution of the population accordin to their economical activity;

Stockbreeding; 80%
Agriculture; 10%
in different crafts; 8%
trade; 2%

Agriculture

Agricultural production
Product	Area (Ha)	Production (ton)
Wheat	9,400	11,280
Barley	105	126
Trefoil	6,400	27

Stockbreeding

Stockbreeding (1999)^[3]
Animal	Stock
Cattle	29,313
Sheep	347,734
Goat	6,760
Horse	417
Mule	417
Donkey	417
Hen	11,600
Turkey	4,816
Duck	1,820
Goose	1,914

Culture

There is one local radio station Pınar FM in Başkale.

Education

In Başkale district; ratio of educated people to total population is; 65% (November 2006)^[4] . Due to the demographical and traditional conditions, in the past,; majority od womans and girls are not sended to schools. Educated people level among womans is dramatically low.

In Başkale district;(November 2006)^[5]

total number of teachers ; 402

Total number of girls in schools; 5,384
Total number of boys in schools; 7,437
Total number of students in village schools; 8,424
Total number of students in town schools; 4,404

Number of total students; 12,828

Sport

Başkale has a football team named as Başkale Spor in amateur league. Vali Abdülkadir SARI Football Stadium was opened in 1999 which has 1,500 seats. Başkale has also a gimnasium also finished at 1999.

Cuisine

Otlu peynir (a kind of cheese which include natural vegetables which differs with region) is a well known product of Başkale. Otlu peynir of Başkale includes these local natural vegetables; Devin, Mendi, Spi pancar, Pinger, Çatır, Nane, Handekuk, Spilinge, Kaşım, Kurat, Sirik, Gunbizin, Sılkuke, Sinameki, Mendi, Sirmo.

Başkale has many local varieties like as; Ayranaşı , Pancarlı Pilav, Keledoş, Keşkeş, Roasted Pancar, Pokin soup, Grara aki soup, Şoğra, Şeleke, Vireke, Tahinik

=Tourism and places to see

Başkale has two hotels with a total 51 beds. There are many restaurants which serve local dishes.

Historical places

Albayrak church
Yanal church
Erek church
Örenkale(Başkal) castle
Örenkale(Başkal) Seljuk medrese and dome
Başkale castle
St. Bartholomeus church
Soradir church
Castle Mosque
Hüsrev Paşa Medrese

Natural places

Yavuzlar village fairy chimneys (locally called as "Vanadocia" referring to Cappadocia
Çamlık (kolegom) hot springs and picnic area
Akçalı village limestone and travertine formation like as Pamukkale

Entombed saints

Dereiçi village; Adil Kabul
Köprüağzı village; Hejde Kev
Esenyamaç village ; Kepenereş and Şah Şıh
Öncüler village; Kelasinci Hevat
Yavuzlar village; Mollahıdır Firendi
Zap basında; Mehmet Çavuş yatırı
Başkale ; Seyyid İsmail Hokan yatırı
Güroluk village ; Şah İsmail Kutbeddinin and Şeyh İsmail Hakkari
Çaldıran village; Şeyh Sucu
Öncüler village ; Uzun Şehid
Ilıcak village ; Pir
Örencik village; Arafat Arabi

External links

www.baskale.gov.tr District government official web

References

^ Kamusü’l Alam
^ http://www.baskale.gov.tr District government office
^ http://www.baskale.gov.tr District government office
^ http://baskale.meb.gov.tr/ Başkale National Education Directorate
^ http://baskale.meb.gov.tr/ Başkale National Education Directorate

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)