Diyadin, chief town of its district, is situated at the northern foot of the Ala Daglari, just 30km/19mi or so north of where the Murat Nehri rises. It lies right on the line of the main north Anatolian fault (earthquakes, volcanic activity) and there are hot springs only 8km/5mi from the town. The site was formerly that of an old town called Zarehaven which, though sacked by the Persians as early as the mid fourth century, was still in existence as a village until the 19th century.