Van is a province in eastern Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border. It is 20,927 km 2 in area and has a population of 877 524 (2000). Its adjacent provinces are Bitlis to the west, Siirt to the southwest, Sirnak and Hakkari to the south, and Agri to the north. The capital is Van. The province and the surrounding area is the home of famous Turkish Van cats.