[1] From its source in the İspiriz Mountains near Başkale on the southeast borders of Van Province, the river tends to the northwest.

It is cut by the Zernek Dam in the Gürpınar Plain and feeds into lake Van near Dönemeç.

The delta is used by birds during migration and is a breeding area of the endangered White-headed duck and Caspian tern.

They constructed the Shamiram Canal from the Hoşap river to irrigate arable land around the Lake Van Closed basin in order to practice intensive agricultural activities.

I built a canal from the Gugunaini [Hoşap] River, I erected vineyards, ploughed fields.