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Başkale (Kurdish; Elbak, Armenian; Albayrak,) is a town in south-eastern Turkey in Van Province. Başkale was called as Elbak and was the capital town of the Elbak kaza of Hakkarisanjak in Vilayet of Van of Ottoman Empire. After the constitution of republic of Turkey at 1923, name was changed as Başkale and district status was given as a part of Van Province

There is one municipality in district, in center town which is established 1937. Başkale town has neighbourhoouds as; Tepebaşı,Yeni mahalle.Camii-Kebir, Samandöken, Cevkan, Kale, Hafiziye, Tarım and Yakınyol.

Geography
Başkale is situated at the 20 km west of the Turkey-Iran state border. 138 km of state border is in Başkales' area. Başkale is surrounded with state border at east and northeast, Yüksekova district of Hakkari Province at south, Saray and Özalp districts of Van Province at north, Gürpınar district of Van Province at west. Başkale has majorly a mountainous area of 2599 km2. Agricultural area is only 355 km2 that ~15% of total area.

Başkale is situated 2460 metres above sea level, in the valley of the Great Zab River, the town stands on the eastern slope of the south eastern Taurus Mountains range.

Başkale is surrounded by (Yiğit mount)/Haravil mount (3468 m) at east, Başkale mount/İspiriz mount ( 3668 m.) at west and Gökdağ mount (3604 m.) south east. Mor, Herevil, Mengene and Çekvan mounts are in the district areas.

Başkale has;Nebirnav, Kevçikan, Hanasor, Çekvan, Aşkitan (Ülya), Perihan, Meydan, Harinan, Terazın, Sülav, Medgezeren, Pistekan, Herevil-Şirez, Derevan, Derik, Bağarük, Düava and Mengen plateaus and,Zapsuyu and Karasu rivers in its area.

Plant cover
There is no forest in Başkale district. Trees( mainly poplar) can be seen only areas near settlements. There are pastures in flat areas and grasslands in some mountainous areas.

Climate
Owing to the high elevation, the winter is extremely severe and the summer very brief.

Summer temperature is about 17-25 C and winter temperature is min. –30 C. Average temperature is 5.8 C.

Average number of snowy days is 140 /per year.

Transportation
Başkale is not on railroad network. Nearest airport is in Van. Başkale is on the state road between Van and Hakkari. Transportation is supplied (between Başkale and Van) by intercity busses. Road network is established between Başkale and villages(total 720 km). The road to Albayrak village is asphalt while others are stabilized earth roads

History
City firstly settled by Parthians as a border city. 1st century BCE. Armenian King Tigranes took control of the area for a short period.Controlling of the area exchanged between Parthians and Roman Empire. At 3st century Sassanid Empire took control of area fromRoman Empire. After division of Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire took control at 6st century. At 645 Arabs took control of the area for a short period then Byzantine Empire was continue to controlling the area by Vaspurakan lords. After Battle of Malazgirt at 1071, control passed to Seljuk Empire. After 1100, Ahlatshah beylik (Sökmenoğulları) controlled the area. After a short period Ayyubids control, and Mongols attack at 1245, region controlled by Anatolian Seljuks, İlhanlılar, and Timur. After Timur at 1386 Karakoyunlular, at the beginning of XVI.century Safavids took control. When the Yavuz Sultan Selim beated Safavids in Battle of Çaldıran, Van and surrounding area was included in Ottoman Empire. After Battle of Çaldıran, control passed to Safavids 2-3 times. During the period of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, at 1548, Ottoman Empire took final control of the area. Başkale was occupated by Armenian militias by the support of Russian army at 02 December 1915 for a three years. During the socialist revolt, Russian army was withdrawed back with the armenian militias and then at 22 April 1918 Turkish militias took control of the city.

Demography and Population
The population of Başkale is given as 14,114 in town and 55,563 total district (2000 census). Approximately ~80% of district population speaks different Kurdish dialects. Population structure shows an tribal construction, tribes and their percentage share of population is given in the table;

Health services
There is one hospital and 5 clinics at Başkale district, with a total; 21 doctors and 36 health officiers(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
Stockbreeding is dominant in the economy of Başkale district. Smugling 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 accordin to their economical activity;
 * Stockbreeding; 80%
 * Agriculture; 10%
 * in different crafts; 8%
 * trade; 2%

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) . Due to the demographical and traditional conditions, in the past,; majority od womans and girls are not sended to schools. Educated people level among womans is dramatically low.

In Başkale district;(November 2006)
 * 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

Sport
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 gimnasium 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