East Anatolia
The region of Eastern Anatolia occupies the easternmost territories of the country. It borders Georgia and the Black Sea Region to the north, Central Anatolia and the Mediterranean Region to the west, Southeastern Anatolia and Iraq to the south and Iran and Armenia to the east. This region is substantially different from the other parts of Turkey in its geographical, demographic and cultural aspects. Most of its territory consists of very high mountain ranges, some of which are covered by eternal snow. Deep, inaccessible valleys without rivers contribute to the severe look of the peaks. An extremely impressive landmark both from a topographical and cultural point of view is Mount Ararat. The summit rises close to the border with Armenia and Iran, and ranks among the most popular venues for Alpinists in the world. Lake Van is another exclusive attraction, one of the biggest salt lakes without an outlet on Earth. However, visitors must take into account a couple of hindrances, such as the freezing cold most of the year and frequent kidnappings and bomb attacks by the Kurdish minority, which is in fact a majority in the eastern part of the region.