Abstract In this work hydrocarbon compounds of sediments were investigated in Lake Van. The samples were taken at 7 stations between 10-320 m depths.The highest oil level was found 4.69 µg/g at the station 2. The compounds identified by GC/MS were in aliphatic groups: 17 saturated, 4 cyclic, 5 unsaturated, 5 alcohol, 1 keton, 3 aldehyde and 4 fatty acids and in aromatic groups: 1 ring 1,2 rings 2 and 1 pregnane (5 beta). The compounds identified as: saturated compounds C5 - C43 are homologue series hydrocarbons, whereas alcohol, keton and aldehyde compounds are microbial oxydation products of saturated hydrocarbon compounds. Aromatic groups; phenol, and oxydation products of furane and benzofurane are oil products. This is the first record for the oil investigation in Lake Van.