Along the Botan River

The Botan River  (on modern Turkish maps called "Uluçay") is a tributary of the Tigris. It has its sources in the Norduz area in the Gürpınar district of Van. After passing through the Çatak district, it flows in western direction through a dramatic deep gorge separating the districts of Hizan and Şirvan from Pervari. It unites with the Tigris southwest of the town of Siirt. The Botan was known in antiquity as the Kentrites, mentioned by Xenophon.

In recent years in the lower segment, towards Siirt, a number of dams have been built. The confluence with the Tigris is now part of the Ilısu Dam Lake.

Photos taken in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2019.