Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY) (1 USD = 36.63 TRY)

Languages: Turkish

Telephone Dial Code: 90

Akdamar Island (Turkish: Akdamar Adası), also known as Aghtamar (Armenian: Աղթամար, romanized: Agt’amar) or Akhtamar (Armenian: Ախթամար, romanized: Axt’amar), is the second largest of the four islands in Lake Van, in eastern Turkey. About 0.7 km² in size, it is situated approximately 3 km from the shoreline. At the western end of the island, a hard, grey, limestone cliff rises 80 m above the lake`s level (1,912 m above sea level). The island declines to the east to a level site where a spring provides ample water. It is home to the 10th century Armenian Holy Cross Cathedral, which was the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Catholicosate of Aghtamar from 1116 to 1895.