The Ark-shaped geological formation in eastern Turkey is called the Durupinar site.
The Durupinar site is a boat-shaped formation near Dogubayazit in Ağrı Province, close to Mount Ararat. It attracted modern attention after Turkish army captain İlhan Durupınar identified aerial photographs of the feature in 1959. Some researchers and religious groups have proposed that it is Noah’s Ark.
Geologists and other investigators have generally interpreted the formation as a natural geological structure rather than a preserved wooden vessel. Its shape, surface features, and surrounding landscape have fueled debate, but no verified archaeological evidence has established that it is the Ark.
The site’s name comes from Durupınar, not from the mountain itself. Mount Ararat is a separate volcanic peak and a prominent traditional setting for Ark searches. The distinction matters because popular accounts often use the two names as though they referred to the same feature.