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The Eastern Anatolia Region
 The Toros (Taurus) Mountains
paralleling Turkey's southern border, and the Black Sea
Mountains in the north meet to form a mighty range which
defines the country's eastern border. The tremendous diversity
of the eastern and southeastern lands surprises travellers:
the red ochre plateau of Erzurum; the forests, waterfalls, and
green pastures of Kars and Agri; the permanent snow-cap on
biblical Mount Agri (Ararat); and the immense Lake Van with
its deep blue waters. Dwellings and ways of life also vary
greatly in this large region. For example, small, earth-roofed
houses, built close to the ground typify Kars. Despite a
generally austere life, the people of Kars are generous and
hospitable.
The region's long and turbulent history has left monuments
to its various civilisations: Byzantine monasteries and
churches, Seljuk mausoleums and caravanserais and elegant
Ottoman mosques and hilltop citadels. To the inveterate
traveller and lover of adventure, this region of Turkey
fascinates, astonishes and informs.
Eastern Anatolia
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