Başkale (Kurdish: Elbak,[3] Armenian: Ադամակերտ, romanized: Adamakert) is a municipality and district of Van Province, Turkey.

138 km (86 mi) of the national border is on the east and north-east of the Başkale district.

Başkale is situated 2460 metres above sea level, in the valley of the Great Zab River (Zapsuyu), and the town stands on the eastern slope of the south-eastern Taurus Mountains.

The agricultural portion is only 355 km2 (137 sq mi), approximately 14% of the total area.

Other geographical features in Başkale include the Karasu river, and the plateaus of Nebirnav, Kevçikan, Hanasor, Çekvan, Aşkitan (Ülya), Perihan, Meydan, Harinan, Terazın, Sülav, Medgezeren, Pistekan, Herevil-Şirez, Derevan, Derik, Bağarük, Düava and Mengen.