Type: | metro district |
Başkale | |
Coordinates: | 38.0475°N 44.015°W |
Province: | Van |
Area Total Km2: | 2727 |
Population Total: | 44168 |
Population As Of: | 2022 |
Postal Code: | 65600 |
Area Code: | 0432 |
Başkale (ku-Latn|Elbak,[1] hy|Ադամակերտ|translit=Adamakert) is a municipality and district of Van Province, Turkey.[2] Its area is 2,727 km2,[3] and its population is 44,168 (2022).[4] The municipality Başkale was established in 1937. In the local elections of March 2019 Erkan Acar from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was elected mayor.[5]
Başkale is situated 200NaN0 west of the Turkey-Iran border. 1380NaN0 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 (Zapsuyu), and the town stands on the eastern slope of the south-eastern Taurus Mountains. The majority of the 25990NaN0 Başkale district is mountainous. The agricultural portion is only 3550NaN0, 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 the district of Başkale. Other geographical features in Başkale include the Karasu river, 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.
According to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition from 1911, the town included 10 thousand people, mostly consisting of Kurds but also 1.5 thousand Armenians and 1 thousand Jews.[6]
There are 69 neighbourhoods in Başkale District:[7]