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Van is a city in eastern Turkey with a population of 380,000 (2001). It is the capital of the Van Province. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van.

Having the ancient name of i, it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC. The ancient local people called themselves Nairi. The city was a major Armenian center. Later the area became once again a center during the reign of the Armenian king, Tigranes, who created the city of Tigranakert in the 1st century BC. During World War I the city came under heavy artillery fire and the original population was completely wiped out or forced to flee. The city's ancient ruins are still clearly visible. The city, which was destroyed during World War I, was rebuilt after the war, near the old city.

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