Başkale

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of Başkale within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

official_name = Başkale


image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =

---

subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = East Anatolia
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Van| population_total = 55563|population_footnotes=
population_as_of =| 2000
population_footnotes = http://www.baskale.gov.tr
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 = 2599|elevation_m = 2460|postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 65x xx
blank_info = 65|blank_name=Licence plate
area_code = (0090)+ 432
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Ejder Yağızer Justice and Development Party
website = [http://www.yerelnet.org.tr/baskale www.yerelnet.org.tr/baskale]
leader_title1=Governor
leader_name1 = Ali ARSLANTAŞ
gwebsite = [http://www.baskale.gov.tr www.baskale.gov.tr]

Başkale (Kurdish: Elbak, Armenian: Albayrak, and alternatively rendered as Bashkala or Pashgala) is a town and district located in south-eastern Turkey in Van Province. Başkale was formerly called Elbak and was the capital town of Elbak kaza of Hakkari sanjak in the Ottoman Vilayet of Van. [Kamusü’l Alam] After the constitution of the republic of Turkey in 1923, its name was changed as "Başkale" and it became a part of Van Province.

"Başkale" means "head fortress" (head meaning "located at the head of the valley") in Turkish.

There is one municipality in the Başkale district, the town centre, which was established 1937. The neighbourhoods of the town of Başkale are: Tepebaşı, Yeni mahalle, Camii-Kebir, Samandöken, Cevkan, Kale, Hafiziye, Tarım and Yakınyol.

Geography

Başkale is situated convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on west of the Turkey-Iran border. convert|138|km|mi|0|abbr=on of the national border is on the east and north-east of the Başkale district. Başkale shares district borders with Yüksekova district of Hakkari Province to the south, Saray and Özalp districts of Van Province to the north, and Gürpınar district of Van Province to the west.

Başkale is situated 2460 metres above sea level, in the valley of the Great Zab River, and the town stands on the eastern slope of the south eastern Taurus Mountains. The majority of the convert|2599|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on Başkale district is mountainous. The agricultural portion is only convert|355|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on, approximately 14% of the total area. Başkale is enclosed by Mount (Yiğit)/Haravil (3468 m) in the east, Mount Başkale/İspiriz (3668 m) in the west, and Mount Gökdağ (3604 m) in the south-east. The mountains of Mor, Haravil, Mengene and Çekvan are in district of Başkale. Other geographical features in Başkale include the the Zapsuyu and Karasu rivers, and the plateaus of Nebirnav, Kevçikan, Hanasor, Çekvan, Aşkitan (Ülya), Perihan, Meydan, Harinan, Terazın, Sülav, Medgezeren, Pistekan, Herevil-Şirez, Derevan, Derik, Bağarük, Düava and Mengen.

History

The city of Başkale was first settled by Parthians as a border city in the first century AD. Armenian King Tigranes took control of the area for a short period. Control of the area alternated between Parthia and the Roman Empire. In the third century the Sassanid Empire took control of area from the Roman Empire. After the division of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire took control in the sixth century.

In 645 Arabs took control of the Başkale area for a short period and control returned to the Byzantine Empire via the Vaspurakan lords. After the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, control passed to Seljuk Empire. After 1100, Ahlatshah beylik (Sökmenoğulları) controlled the area. After a short period of Ayyubid control and the Mongol attack of 1245, the region was controlled by Anatolian Seljuks, İlhanlılar, and Timur. After the overthrow of Timur in 1386 by Kara Koyunlu federation of Turkoman tribes, the Safavids took control at the beginning of the sixteenth century. When the Yavuz Sultan Selim defeated the Safavids in the Battle of Çaldıran, Van and surrounding area was included in Ottoman Empire, but control returned to the Safavids several times after the Battle of Çaldıran. In 1548, during the period of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, the Ottoman Empire finally took full control of the area.

One of many events in the string of tensions prior to World War I was a massacre of approximately fifty Gawarnai Assyrians by Muslims on 30 October 1914 at Başkale in the local government centre.Fact|date=June 2007 Armenians of Başkale were later deported and massacred by Turks and Kurds during the Armenian genocide. [cite web|url=http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1915/bryce/a04.htm|title=The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire: 1915-1916|author=Viscount Bryce|year=1916|publisher=Crown of United Kingdom Refer to section III. Vilayet of Bitlis; General description #21.]

City features

Başkale is best known historically for being a military station. Its now ruined fortress was once occupied by a Kurdish bey (chieftain)Fact|date=June 2007 and lies a short distance uphill from the township. The fortress is a good example of Urartian architecture.Fact|date=June 2007

Demography and population

The population of the town of Başkale was 14,114, and of the district was 55,563 (2000 census). Approximately 80% of the district speaks a Kurdish dialect. [cite web|url=http://www.baskale.gov.tr|title=Başkale District Government Office|accessdate=2007-06-12 tr icon] The population structure shows a tribal construction, with the breakdown of ethnic groups given as follows [cite web|url=http://www.baskale.gov.tr|title=Başkale District Government Office|accessdate=2007-06-12 tr icon] :

Health services

There is one hospital and 5 clinics at Başkale district, with a total; 21 doctors and 36 health officers(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

Stock-breeding is dominant in the economy of Başkale district.Smuggling 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 according to their economical activity;:*Stock-breeding; 80%:*Agriculture; 10%:*in different crafts; 8%:*trade; 2%

Agriculture

tock-breeding

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) [http://baskale.meb.gov.tr/ Başkale National Education Directorate] . Due to the demographic and traditional conditions, in the past,; majority of women and girls are not sent to schools. Educated people level among women is dramatically low.

In Başkale district;(November 2006) [http://baskale.meb.gov.tr/ Başkale National Education Directorate] :*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

port

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 gymnasium 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

*" [http://www.baskale.gov.tr/ www.baskale.gov.tr District government official web] "

References