� 6,000 Feet Long (over one mile)� 550 Feet Tall� Construction Period: 1983-1990
� Location: Sanliurfa, Turkey: Upper
Euphrates River
� Named after founder of Turkish Republic
� Total Cost: $1.25 Billion (est.)
� 8 Turbines: 2,400 M.W. Max. Output
� Two 25’ Diameter
Tunnels Divert Water To
Farmland as far as 16 mi Farmland as far as 16 mi
. Away
� Ataturk Dam
� Lake Ataturk,
Created by Dam
� Ataturk Dam
� Euphrates River
� 63 Billion CY Lake Atatruk
� To Syria, Iraq
� Ataturk Dam
PROJECT USEPROJECT USE
Generate electricityGenerate electricity
Currently 8.9 billion kWh Currently 8.9 billion kWh a yeara year
2010 2010 –– 22% of Turkey’s 22% of Turkey’s electricity needselectricity needs
Irrigate dry plainsIrrigate dry plains
Provide water to Syria Provide water to Syria and Iraqand Iraq
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITSSOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Government’s IntentionsGovernment’s Intentions
Raise income levels & Raise income levels & standards of livingstandards of living
Provide employment Provide employment opportunitiesopportunities
Increase in land valueIncrease in land value
Increase in family incomeIncrease in family income
Higher number of Higher number of personal vehicles and personal vehicles and tractorstractors
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITSSOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Agricultural BoomAgricultural Boom
Doubled irrigable farmlandDoubled irrigable farmland
Tripled crops yields:Tripled crops yields:Cotton, wheat, barley, lentil, Cotton, wheat, barley, lentil, other grainsother grains
Expanded cultivation of new Expanded cultivation of new Expanded cultivation of new Expanded cultivation of new productsproducts
Expanded experimentation Expanded experimentation of new fruits, vegetables, of new fruits, vegetables, and nutsand nuts
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITSSOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Ataturk Dam LakeAtaturk Dam Lake
FisheryFisherySource of food & recreationalSource of food & recreational
Commercial fishing = $1.26 Commercial fishing = $1.26 million a yearmillion a year
Provides lakeside jobsProvides lakeside jobs
Recreation & SportsRecreation & SportsRecreation & SportsRecreation & SportsIntroduce modern sports to Introduce modern sports to locals: rowing, canoeing, locals: rowing, canoeing, sailing, diving, etc.sailing, diving, etc.
International Sports FestivalInternational Sports Festival
Open the region up to tourismOpen the region up to tourism
TECHNICAL ISSUE
A zoned rock-fill dam with a central core on the Euphrates River
Dam embankment: 169 m
(550 ft) high and 1,820 m
Ataturk Dam: Ataturk Dam: Ataturk Dam: Ataturk Dam: Originally Karababa Dam
(550 ft) high and 1,820 m
(6,000 ft) long
located at the north of Arab Plate
TECHNICAL ISSUE
Settlement problem
Landslides problem
(a) Slides in the rock-fill section on the upstream side (11 December 1993); (b) a rebuilt slide area;
and (c) cracks along the crest of the dam
(September 1997).
Settlement measurements from 1 April 1992 to 4
June 1997 (AEJV, 1997). RA, Right abutment; LA,
left abutment
TECHNICAL ISSUE
The most important objection : The initial impounding of the Atatürk dam
Interrupt partially the water flow for one month
Iraq has accused Turkey for violating "International Law"
SOCIAL PROBLEMSSOCIAL PROBLEMS
55,000 people55,000 people had been dislocated & most of had been dislocated & most of
them were them were KurdsKurds
This discrimination caused Kurds to protest and This discrimination caused Kurds to protest and
to form to form Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK)Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) in in
Turkey.Turkey.
Turkish Govt. claims PKK a terrorist threat for Turkish Govt. claims PKK a terrorist threat for
Turkey.Turkey.
Till 2004 Till 2004 three major civil warsthree major civil wars between Kurds between Kurds
(PKK) and Turkey Govt. caused a total (PKK) and Turkey Govt. caused a total death ofdeath of
330,000 people330,000 people. .
POLICY CHALLENGESPOLICY CHALLENGES
In 1989, the ancient capital of In 1989, the ancient capital of AdiyamanAdiyaman Province Province ““SamasatSamasat”” was floodedwas flooded
Till now at least Till now at least 82 historical sites82 historical sites have been floodedhave been flooded
World Bank stopped their funding for the loss of World Bank stopped their funding for the loss of access of those archeological sitesaccess of those archeological sites
POLICY CHALLENGESPOLICY CHALLENGES
Conflicts and hostility relationships raised between Conflicts and hostility relationships raised between Syria or Iraq and Turkey.Syria or Iraq and Turkey.
Syria and Iraq claimed that Turkey does not respect Syria and Iraq claimed that Turkey does not respect “1987 Water Treaty”“1987 Water Treaty”..
Turkey claimed that Syria and Iraq supports and Turkey claimed that Syria and Iraq supports and shelters the terrorist group of PKK party.shelters the terrorist group of PKK party.shelters the terrorist group of PKK party.shelters the terrorist group of PKK party.
A Physical barrier to fish migrationA Physical barrier to fish migration
Degradation the soil fertilityDegradation the soil fertility
Increase of the habitant of mosquitoIncrease of the habitant of mosquito
Deforestation at hilly areasDeforestation at hilly areas
Reduction the discharge capacity of the downstream Reduction the discharge capacity of the downstream
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Reduction the discharge capacity of the downstream Reduction the discharge capacity of the downstream rivers.rivers.
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