Tatvan
Tatvan | |
|---|---|
Overview of Tatvan from the volcano Nemrut | |
Tatvan Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 38°30′08″N 42°16′53″E / 38.50222°N 42.28139°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Bitlis |
| District | Tatvan |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mümin Erol (DEM Party) |
| Elevation | 1,690 m (5,540 ft) |
| Population (2021) | 79,214 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 13200 |
| Website | tatvan |
Tatvan (Kurdish: Tetwan; Armenian: Դատվան, romanized: Datvan) is a city on the western shore of Lake Van, in Bitlis Province in eastern Turkey. It is the seat of Tatvan District. Its population is 79,214 (2021), making it the most populated municipality of the province. The current mayor is Mümin Erol (DEM Party).
The town is populated by Kurds of the Bekiran tribe. Tatvan is located in Bitlis Province and is situated within the broader Kurdish-majority region of southeastern Turkey. Demographic studies have consistently identified Bitlis Province among the provinces with the highest concentrations of Kurdish speakers in Turkey. Demographic studies of Turkey's Kurdish-majority provinces have identified Bitlis Province, within which Tatvan is situated, as having a predominantly Kurdish-speaking population, where Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) is the main vernacular language.