Aslantaş Dam

Aslantaş Dam (Turkish: Aslantaş Barajı) is an embankment dam on Ceyhan River in Osmaniye Province, southern Turkey, built between 1975 and 1984.

Aslantaş Dam Aslantaş Barajı
reservoir
Location of Aslantaş Dam in Turkey
Official name	Aslantaş Barajı
Location	Osmaniye Province, Turkey
Coordinates	37°16′21″N 36°16′17″E
Construction began	1975
Opening date	1984
Owner(s)	State Hydraulic Works (DSI)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Rock-filled
Impounds	Ceyhan River
Height	95 m (312 ft)
Dam volume	8.493 hm3 (11,108,425 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity	1,150 hm3 (4.1×1010 cu ft)
Surface area	49 km2 (19 sq mi)
Power Station
Installed capacity	138 MW
Annual generation	569 GWh

Aslantaş Dam is situated 80 km (50 mi) northeast of Adana. Built for irrigation, flood control and electricity generation purposes by the State Hydraulic Works (DSI), the dam is 95 m (312 ft) high and has a volume of 8.493 hm³ (11,108,425 cu yd) filled with rock. The dam creates a 49 km² (19 sq mi) wide lake with 1,150 hm³ (4.1×10¹⁰ cu ft) capacity at normal water level. It irrigates an area of 149,849 ha (370,280 acres). It also supports a 138 MW power station, which generates 569 GWh electricity annually. According to some sources, the construction of the Aslantaş Dam resulted in involuntary resettlement of 60,000 people.[1]

Aslantaş Dam reservoir (right) seen from Karatepe with the fortification wall (left) at the Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum.

Partly on the western and eastern banks of the dam reservoir, the Karatepe-Aslantaş National Park is located. On a peninsula at the west bank, the hill Karatepe is situated inside the national park. Overlooking the dam reservoir, a walled settlement of the Neo-Hittites was discovered on Karatepe dating back to the 8th century BC. Following archaeological excavations between 1946 and 1952, the site was preserved as the Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum in 1958. The Kumkale on Domuztepe, another settlement of the Neo-Hittites and a fortification built by the Crusaders , which is located about 2 km (1.2 mi) north of this site, was flooded by the dam reservoir.[2]