Kars (212 km northeast of Erzurum) stands at an altitude of 1,750 meters and has played an important role in Turkish history. It was at the center of the Turko-Russian War. The Russian legacy can still be seen in much of the town's architecture.
Çildir takes its name from the nearby lake which lies at an altitude of 1,965 meters. The scenic area around the lake provides a habitat for a fascinating variety of birds.
The city of Igdir in the samenamed province stands on a large, fertile plain where fruit and, unusual for this geographical region, cotton grow. The Bible relates that when the flood waters receded, Noah and his family descended from Mt. Agri (Ararat) toward the fertile plain. Monuments to visit near the city include Uranian rock monuments, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai and the Karakale (Black Castle).
Agri, a provincial capital on a 1,650-meter-high plateau, takes its name from the mountain which looms over it . The pleasant Balik (Fish) lake to the northeast, not surprisingly has plenty of fish restaurants serving local delicacies.
Near Dogubayazit, Turkey's most scenic natural monument, Mt. Agri rises to a height of 5,137 meters. To see the place where it is believed that Noah's Ark came aground, you can begin your trek at Üzengili village, 25 km east of Dogubayazit. Be sure to try the local dessert, asure (Noah's Pudding), believed to have first been made by Noah's wife from the last bits of food in the ark.

From Malatya to Hakkari

Malatya is a busy city situated on a fertile plain at the foot of the Anti-Taurus Mountains. The Archaeology Museum houses new finds from the Lower Firat region that date from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages. In Malatya, the apricot growing center of Turkey, it is possible to sample many delicious apricot confections as well as other fresh and dried fruit.
Elazig, founded in the 19th century, lies on a plain in the shadow of a mountain crowned with the ancient citadel of Harput. Destruction wrought by several earthquakes and the relatively recent construction of Elazig has led to most of the population of Harput deserting it for the modern city. Several Seljuk mosques remain, however, which are worth visiting.
High mountains encircle Tunceli, 133 km north of Elazig on the Elazig-Erzurum road. On the way, stop off to see the fortress of Pertek, built in the Middle Ages and still in good condition today.