BY: BRYNNE HENRY, BROOKE STREHLER, MASON AZOSE

Tigres and Euphrates Dam Constuction

Period 5

Background

Euphrates springs from Eastern Turkey. It is 2,700 km, the longest river in Southwestern Asia

The Tigris also springs from Eastern Turkey, but the main part of the river comes from the tributaries in Iraq

The Southeastern Anatolia Development Project (GAP in Turkish) plans to construct 22 dams and 19 Hydroelectric Power Plants and divert waters to irrigate 1.7 million hectares of land

Turkey’s dam/hydropower construction has reduced water flows into Iraq by 80% and into Syria by 40%

Location

Infiltration

90% of water from Tigres and 50% of water in Euphrates originate in Turkey

Tension between Turkey and Iraq over water usage

Low flow rate of water into Iraq from Turkey

Salt water infiltrates the rivers because of low flow rate

Too Little Water

The middle east climate is semi-arid to arid

Development of Turkish hydroelectricity means less water

Seasonal draughtsLow flow rate from

Turkey

“We do not say we share their oil resources. They cannot say

they share our water resources. This is a right of sovereignty.

We have the right to do anything we like.”

-Suleyman Demirel, Turkish Prime Minister

Unusual Damming

First case that questions international water laws

Cultural conflict Dams will flood unexcavated archeological sites Destroy ancient civilizations

In an oil rich area Water necessary for refining Oil shipped around the world

Influential Case

Turkey is the strongest of all the countries involved in the conflict economically, socially and militarily

Majority of the water used by Iraq, not Turkey

Need for a real meeting between the countries

Future Issues

Water-wars

Political ties to the countries could involve America in another war

Potential for droughts and famine downstream