The small dusty town Dogubeyazit is Turkey's most eastern district, 35 km from border crossing to Iran and consequent strong military presence. The main road between Turkey and Iran, once a stretch of the famous hippy trail and travelled intensely, goes from Erzurum through Dogubayazit (just south of Ararat) to Tabriz.
The town stands on a plain surrounded by some of Turkey's highest peaks Mount Ararat (5,137m) and Little Ararat (3,896m) dominate the landscape all over around.
Mount Ararat |
|
After its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1514 the area was ruled by Turkish generals, later including Ishakpasa, who built the palace that still bears his name.
|
Ishak Pasha Palace
|
Mount Ararat (5,137 masl) 15km from Dogubeyazit, the best views of the mountain are from here. It is higher than any mountain in the continental United States except for Alaska or in Europe outside the Caucasus. Ararat is a dormant volcano; the slopes are covered with great blocks of black basalt rock, some as large as village houses.
Ararat |
|
The second-largest meteor crater in the world, just on the Iranian border about 35km east of the town.
|
meteor crater
|
The "Noah's Ark National Park" including the "Durupinar" or canoe-shaped/boat-shaped mound site is up in the hills east of town.
Noah's Ark site |
|
|
|
|
