Mount Nemrut eruption dating evidence. Mount Nemrut is a large caldera volcano on the southwest part of Lake Van The eruption blocked the Mirod River (the only river exit), sealing Lake Van This turned Lake Van into the world's largest alkaline closed basin soda lake
Mount Nemrut's major eruptions occurred during the Pleistocene, and volcanic activity transformed Lake Van into a large alkaline closed basin soda lake. The volcano sits on the western shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. Major eruptions altered the drainage of the region, with a massive lava flow over 60 km long blocking water discharge from the Van basin. The last known eruption occurred in 1650 CE, with earlier eruptions documented in Armenian sources of the 15th century and Kurdish sources of the 16th century. Lake Van, the world's largest alkaline endorheic lake, would have had different water levels before the blocking eruption occurred during the terminal Pleistocene.
Key Facts
- Mount Nemrut is a large caldera volcano on the southwest part of Lake Van
- The eruption blocked the Mirod River (the only river exit), sealing Lake Van
- This turned Lake Van into the world's largest alkaline closed basin soda lake
- Lake Van would have been 100 feet lower before the eruption
- The eruption occurred at the end of the Pleistocene (Younger Dryas period)
- Dating: between 14,500 and 11,800 years ago
- This catastrophic event caused Lake Van to rise and flood the underwater ruins
Related site: Mount Nemrut — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: NEW Dating Evidence and Discoveries | Lost Civilizations | Türkiye - Matthew LaCroix, Will John by Matthew LaCroix