Bitlis Province
Bitlis Province
Bitlis ili | |
|---|---|
View of the Tombstones of Ahlat | |
Location of the province within Turkey | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Seat | Bitlis |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Erol Karaömeroğlu |
Area | 8,294 km2 (3,202 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 353,988 |
| • Density | 42.68/km2 (110.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Area code | 0434 |
| Website | www |
Bitlis Province (Turkish: Bitlis ili; Armenian: Բաղեշի մարզ, romanized: Bagheshi marz; Kurdish: Parêzgeha Bidlîsê) is a province of eastern Turkey, located to the west of Lake Van. It takes its name from the central city, Bitlis. Its area is 8,294 km2, and its population is 353,988 (2022). The province was part of Moxoene of the Kingdom of Armenia. Before the Armenian genocide, the area was part of the Six Armenian Vilayets and considered part of Western Armenia by Armenians. The province is considered part of Turkish Kurdistan and has a Kurdish majority. The current Governor of the province is Erol Karaömeroğlu.