The legend of Akdamar
The story goes that a beautiful girl named Tamara lived on the island in the lake. A young man from the shore fell in love with her and swam across to the island every night. To guide him, Tamara lit a lamp each evening.
When her father discovered their secret love, he lit the lamp himself on a stormy night and led the young man astray in the middle of the lake. It is said that as he struggled against the waves, his last words were "Ah, Tamara!", and that this is how the island got its name.
Today the island is home to the 10th-century Church of the Holy Cross. See Akdamar Island.
The Shamiram Canal and Queen Shamiram
The ancient canal that brings water to Van from the south is popularly attributed to the legendary Queen Shamiram (Semiramis). In fact, it was built by the Urartian king Menua in the 9th century BC. Parts of this roughly 2,800-year-old canal still carry water today.
The Lake Van monster
In the mid-1990s, some people claimed to have seen a giant creature in the lake. No scientific evidence was ever found, but the tale of the Lake Van monster quickly became famous and is still told, half in jest, as an urban legend.