Nemrut is a polygenetic stratovolcano located in the collision zone of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which determines the seismic and volcanic activity in the region.

[1] The collision of these plates began in the Middle Eocene and closed the stretch of water, which in the Mesozoic formed the Tethys Ocean.

Nemrut, along with three other volcanoes of eastern Turkey: Ararat, Tendürek and Süphan, is located in the area of a complex fault, which runs along the boundary of the Arabian and Eurasian plates in the territory of the Armenian Highland.

Turkish chronicles of the 16th century reproduce a local legend as follows:[citation needed] Native believe that Nemruz used to spend the winters around and the summers on this mountain.

In 1441 a great sign took place, for the mountain called Nemrud, which lies between Kelath and Bitlis, suddenly began to rumble like heavy thunder.

This set the whole land into terror and consternation, for one saw that the mountain was rent asunder to the breadth of a city; and from out of this cleft flames arose, shrouded in dense, whirling smoke, of so evil a stench that men fell ill by reason of the deadly smell.

Red-hot stones glowed in the terrible flames, and boulders of enormous size were hurled aloft with peals of thunder.

[7]A more recent eruption in 1597 is mentioned in Turkish records: In the northern part of this location there is a canal through which flows a dark water [basaltic magma].

[8] The first systematic studies of the volcano began in the mid-19th century, when, taking advantage of the British influence in the region, it was visited by several European explorers.

They described and mapped the area, and some, including the British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard, explored the remains of Urartu fortresses around Lake Van.

In this period it was suggested that the unusual structure of the watersheds in the region, and the very formation of Lake Van, is related to a large volcanic eruption and the blocking of the water discharge to Murat River by the lava flow.

[9][10] The most detailed work on the subject was the doctoral thesis of the English scientist Felix Oswald, "A Treatise on the Geology of Armenia", which devotes a large part to Nemrut.

[12] The potential activity of Nemrut and the close proximity of several Turkish cities inspired recent in-depth studies.

Their products are mainly alkaline and include a wide range of lavas: from basalt to rhyolite and phonolite, as well as pyroclastic emissions and slag.

[2] The cone of Nemrut was further formed by mobile dark trachytic lavas, which gradually filled Bitlis gorge to a distance of 80 km from the volcanic center.

Consequent deposits from basalt and trachytic lavas finalized a pronounced cone with a height of about 4400[2]-4500 m.[13] The next major eruption (volume 62.6 km3)[16] created large voids inside the volcano, which led to the collapse of the apex[2] and the formation of the caldera.

They include Girigantepe (2433 m), Arizintepe (2445 m), Kayalitepe (2311 m), Mezarliktepe (2409 m), Atlitepe (2281 m), Amis (2166 m), Kevriağa (2087 m), Avuştepe and Sivritepe, which is the highest point of Nemrut.

[13] Besides the legendary relationship of the volcano with King Nimrod, in the 1990s scientists discovered that Nemrut played an important role in the life of the first civilizations.

[26] The seismic activity in the region is high – in recent years there have been several earthquakes directly related to the Nemrut fault.

[27] Significant seismic events of the last 150 years that occurred within 30 km of Nemrut include the earthquakes of 18 May 1881 (magnitude 6.7), 29 March 1907 (5), 27 January 1913 (5), 14 February 1915 (6), and 3 November 1997 (5).

[15] There is evidence that the nature of volcanism in the region may change due to the shift of stress at the boundary of the Arabian and Eurasian plates.

The direction of pressure coming from the Arabian plate is gradually turning from south–north to the west–east, with a linear shift of 7.8–9 mm per year.

Ilı is located closer to the fault than Lake Nemrut; therefore it has a larger inflow of hot springs and a higher temperature.

Velvet scoters (Melanitta deglandi) and two species of gull live and breed on the shores of Lake Nemrut.