Ruins of a fortress, supposedly built around 3000 years ago during the time of the state of Urartu, were found at the bottom of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, RIA Novosti reported.

It is noted that the construction occupying an area of ​​about one square kilometer at a depth of more than ten meters, was flooded due to the fact that the water level in the lake rose 150 meters over the last centuries. During the underwater studies, stone sculpture of a lion was also discovered. Local authorities expect that the finding will attract the attention of archaeologists and tourists-divers.

Urartu is a state in the Near East centred on Lake Van in the Armenian Highlands from 9 to 6 centuries BC.