� 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.

Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING

Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments