Fritillaria In Turkey: Wild rivers don’t run free anymore

Not only do we all need water, most of us even like it: to quench one’s thirst or just to relax and feel the way water is hugging your body. Some prefer a bathtub filled with Evian others would just dip in the next natural water. No matter which one is your choice, having a water source is a fundamental requirement for all human habitats.

When looking at the map of Turkey, you will find the land criss-crossed by rivers, with huge lakes sitting here and there. Not so surprising, that this land gave home to early human settlements and ancient civilisations. The rivers Euphrates (Fırat) and Tigris (Dicle) define Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilisation. The once winding and untamed rivers supplied vital water for the crop and provided the settings for Gilgamesh’ story.

However, with the 20^th century there came some serious modifications. Ambitious plans were drawn to gain electricity and to build irrigation systems. Huge reservoirs and dams transformed the land and prospects for agriculture. But meanwhile, it all has also implied social, environmental and cultural changes – and not necessarily for the better. Several hundred villages were flooded and poor farmers were forced to leave their homes and were resettled elsewhere. Natural environment has been transformed affecting habitats for plants and animals and archaeological sites were submerged.

The largest is the South-Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) with 22 dams built so far. One of the largest barrages of the world was built on the Euphrates as part of this project – and was obviously named after Atatürk. Tourists traveling from Urfa to the “Nemrut heads” usually stop by here. Further on, the ancient town of Halfeti, once a centre for Christianity and a prosperous station on the main Silk Road was cut into two as a result of the construction of the Birecik Dam, and part of the town was submerged. Some fine Armenian stonework and the old mosque are now under water with the minaret peaking out. A similar fate is lying ahead of Hasankeyf along the Tigris River if the government pressed on with the plans of the Ilısu dam. Although, now, there are plans for transferring some of the historical monuments before flooding the area, the unique landscape and traditional lifestyle would still be lost. Renovations have actually started – partly to strengthen ruins that would be moved and to protect the ones that would not be submerged under water. Meanwhile, professionals and civil initiatives, even via Facebook protest against plans.

A similar fate is awaiting the Çoruh River. Running wild in the North-East, in the Kaçkar mountains, it is one of the world’s finest white river rafting area, and also a centre for eco-tourism. The Çoruh River Development Plan includes 13 dams on the Çoruh River itself – submerging villages, churches, mosques and important habitats. The area is outstanding for its biodiversity with numerous endemic species. Integrity of the ecosystem will be damaged leading to loss of species. It will impact the diversity of human culture as well, leading to a loss of traditional communities. A civil movement is fighting for the survival of the survival of this area.

It was Blog Action Day today with the topic of water…

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