Akdamar Island
Akdamar Island seen from the south shore of Lake Van, near the town of Gevaş | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Van |
| Coordinates | 38°20′30″N 43°02′07″E / 38.341667°N 43.035278°E |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Area | 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.7 km (0.43 mi) |
| Width | 0.6 km (0.37 mi) |
| Coastline | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,912 m (6273 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Van |
| District | Gevaş |
Akdamar Island (Turkish: Akdamar Adası), also known as Aghtamar (Armenian: Աղթամար, romanized: Aġt’amar) or Akhtamar (Armenian: Ախթամար, romanized: Axt’amar; Kurdish: Girava Axtamarê), is the second largest of the four main islands in Lake Van, in eastern Turkey. About 0.7 km2 in size, it is situated approximately 3 km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island, a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m above the lake's level (1,912 m above sea level). The island declines to the east to a level site where a spring provides ample water.
It is home to the 10th century Armenian Holy Cross Cathedral, which was the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Catholicosate of Aghtamar from 1116 to 1895.