Bitlis (; ; ; ) is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of
Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from
Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the
Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include fruits, grain and tobacco. Industry is fairly limited, and deals mainly with leatherworking, manufacture of tobacco products as well as weaving and dyeing of coarse cloth. Bitlis is connected to other urban centres by road, including
Tatvan on Lake Van, 25 km to the northeast, and the cities of
Mus (Mush), 100 km northwest, and
Diyarbakir, 200 km to the west. The climate of Bitlis can be harsh, with long winters and heavy snowfalls. Summers are hot, and often humid.