Class 40 was accompanied by US Consulate Officials Joseph Babb, Hamza Ulucay, and their security attaché Huseyin Ulular. We piled into the bus at 8am, on our way to the Ataturk Dam. It was an hour plus drive with two surprising full U-turns on the freeway…. We arrived at the Ataturk Dam and were greeted by Gongor Gorkan, the 16th Regional Director of DSI, the State Water Works for Turkey. His presentation was a look at not only the construction of the Dam, but a briefing on the GAP plans for current and future dams in Turkey. The Ataturk Dam is the 5th largest in the world, and is one of the 19 Hydro Electric Dams currently in operation. The base of the Ataturk Dam is 960 meters wide and 169 meters high. The excavation site used to build the dam has been converted into a recreational lake and amphitheater. With the material used to build the dam, a wall 1 meter wide and 7.85 meters tall could be built around the entire country of Turkey. We were lucky enough to take a drive onto the Ataturk Dam, and take a close look at what is possible with a proactive government that is determined to deliver water to agricultural lands.
Our next stop was the GAP headquarters in Urfa. We were greeted by the President of the GAP Administration, Sadrettin Karahocagil. We received a presentation on the economic, social, and cultural objectives and impacts associated with the GAP project. The GAP is a multi-sector project that includes agriculture, industry, transportation, health, tourism, jobs, and social equity programs. The GAP project includes a plan to complete 22 dams; 19 of those being Hydro Electric. The project covers 9 provinces in Turkey, bordering Syria & Iraq. The anticipated cost is 32 billion, of which 23 billion has been expended. Some quick facts on the expected outcomes of the project: 1.8 million hectares of irrigated ground, 22% of Turkey’s energy needs, creation of 3.8 million new jobs, and increase of per capita income of 209%. To date, 80% of the dams have been completed, while the delivery system is only 15% complete. The administration’s focus is to increase delivery of water to the farmers, with a goal of 1.3 million irrigated hectares by 2016.
Back to the bus - we went for a quick trip to downtown Urfa for a visit with Deputy Mayor Fevzi Yucetepe, who oversees social & cultural affairs. Fevzi started by mentioning the recent find of the city of Gobeketepe, which is believed to be the oldest city in the world, dating back 12,000 years. Fevzi went on to discuss the historical nature of the area around Sanliurfa and how the history of the city dates back to Moses walking around as a young shepherd and the claim that Urfa is the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. He indicated that it is almost impossible to dig a hole without finding ancient artifacts. Much building is going on around Urfa as this province is striving to prepare for its future. In fact, thanks to the GAP project, migration to the area is on the rise. In response to media portrayal of security concerns in the Middle East, Fevzi indicated that Urfa is a place of tolerance with multiple cultural beliefs living together in relative peace. He also stated that the people in Urfa are extremely hospitable and any of us would be welcome in their home.
Mehmet Sait Melik, President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Assembly, joined us on the bus for a trip out to Isa Sumer’s Ranch on the outskirts of Urfa. As we drove up to the ranch, the first thing we gazed upon was the 1500 year old Armenian church & village. We were greeted by Isa and five other growers from the region. They shared the significant impacts on their farming practices due to the GAP project, including new crops, as well as increased capital investment in permanent crops & equipment. Despite being the birthplace of cultivated agriculture, the growers in this region are grappling with how to exploit their new found resource in irrigated agriculture. After a tour of the farm, our generous host invited us into his 200 year old home for tea and baklava! We loaded the bus in the dark and headed back to home base.
As we all know, most accidents occur within 2 miles of home…Class 40 was no exception tonight! As our mammoth bus was passing through the narrow streets of Urfa, our driver clipped the median and blocked traffic for long enough to raise tempers behind us. The sound of more than 20 impatient cars honking let the locals know, Class 40 has arrived!
Good Night & tune in tomorrow for more Class 40 adventures in Turkey.
- Bill Hammond, Sarah Reynolds, Yissel Barajas
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