Erciş

Erciş
Erciş
Coordinates: 39°01′52″N 43°21′35″E / 39.03111°N 43.35972°E / 39.03111; 43.35972Coordinates: 39°01′52″N 43°21′35″E / 39.03111°N 43.35972°E / 39.03111; 43.35972
Country	Turkey
Province	Van
District	Erçiş
Government
– Mayor	Fatih Çiftçi (AKP)
– Kaymakam	Ramazan Fani
Area
– District	1,876 km2 (724.3 sq mi)
Elevation	1,750 m (5,741 ft)
Population (2008)[1][2]
– Urban	73,733
– District	154,499
– District Density	82.4/km2 (213.3/sq mi)
Post code	65400
Website	www.ercis.bel.tr

A view from Erciş city center.

Erciş (pronounced [eɾˈdʒiːʃ]; Armenian: Ականց, Akants; historically Արճեշ, Artchesh) is a town and its surrounding district located in the Van Province, Turkey. The mayor is Fatih Çiftçi (AKP).

This small district several times was the capital city of some ruling states. It was fortified in the early 14th century by the Vizir Ilkhanid Ali Shah. Erciş was a town of Karakoyunlu Turks. Erciş was moved to its new location called Alada in 1841, due to floods. In 1914, the Russians invaded the city, but they were eventually expelled from the city on April 1, 1918. It suffered a major earthquake on October 23, 2011.

The district has total of 2,115 km² area and is surrounded by Muradiye on the east, Bitlis on the west, Ağrı on the north and the Lake Van on the south. There are 143 settlement areas, including 3 municipalities, 14 districts, 2 subdistricts, 85 villages and 39 other entities.

It is one the most developed cities in eastern Turkey and it is the place where the folk songs are still alive. Many kinds of fruits and vegetables are raised. Planting of poplar trees is widely seen in the city and surroundings.

The total population of the district is 145,229 and spread among the capital city and villages. The rural population is 66,832, while the urban population is 78,397. Population density is 47/km². The population of the city of Erciş is 77,065 inhabitants.

Historical Artchesh

From 18th century, because of the increase of level of Lake Van the old town (called Artchesh) slowly disappeared. And in the second half of the 19th century the buildings, churches and dwelling houses were not seen. After old Erciş was covered by water, the city was moved to north to much higher place called Alada in 1841, were the new town was built called Akants (Նոր Արճեշ (Armenian pronunciation: [ɑɾtʃɛʃ], New Artchesh in Armenian and Erciş (Turkish pronunciation: [eɾdʒiʃ]) in Turkish).^[3]

See also

• 2011 Van earthquake
• Zilan massacre
• Ercişli Emrah
• Ulupamir

References

1. ^ Türkisches Institut für Statistik, abgerufen 1. Dezember 2009
2. ^ Türkisches Institut für Statistik, abgerufen 1. Dezember 2009
3. ^ Tadevos Hakobyan, ՊԱՏՄԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՔԱՂԱՔՆԵՐԸ - ԱՐՃԵՇ (The cities of Historical Armenia - Artchesh), Yerevan, 1987

External links

• Erciş
• Video About Ercis