Iğdır is a small but fertile province located in Eastern Anatolia between two prominent locations. The first is the high plateau of Kars province, which is located 180 kilometers (112 miles) to the northwest. The second is the majestic Mount Ararat (Ağrı), which stands as the highest mountain in Turkey and looms over the province to the southeast.
According to the Bible, after the flood waters receded, Noah and his family descended from Mount Ararat and settled on the fertile Iğdır plain. From here, their descendants migrated to the south and west along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, thereby establishing the second generation of humanity. The wide olive groves in the area are believed to be the place where doves carried olive branches to Noah's ark.
The 12th-century Harmandöven (or Ejder) Caravanserai, located 30km from Iğdır, was built along the Batumi-Tabriz silk road and has been restored since 2010.
Near the city of Iğdır, there are several monuments worth visiting, including Urartian rock monuments and Karakale (Black Castle). The cemetery in the village of Karakoyun has several impressive black-stone tombstones from Ararat Mountain. These were made for heroes or young people who passed away nearby.