Seyhan Baraj Gölü

Seyhan Dam Lake is a large reservoir that formed behind the dam built on the Seyhan River just north of Adana. Lying about 10 kilometres from the city centre, the lake is the first place that comes to mind for people in Adana when they talk about water and electricity, and also about a cool weekend escape. The State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) describes it as one of the city's symbols. The dam was built to protect the city and the plain from the floods of the Seyhan. Construction began in 1953, the dam was completed in 974 days and it entered service on 8 April 1956. According to English Wikipedia, the project was the first in a series of hydroelectric investments financed by the World Bank. The dam took on the task of protecting from floods about 850,000 decares of land, known as old Adana, together with the city centre. The dam body is an earth-fill structure with an inclined clay core and a volume of about 7.5 million cubic metres. The body rises 53.2 metres above the riverbed. At normal water level the lake covers an area of about 67.82 square kilometres and holds 1,200 million cubic metres of water. The water in the lake supplies irrigation for about 174,000 hectares of land on the plain. The dam's hydroelectric plant produces on average 350 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year. According to a 2021 statement by DSİ, over 65 years the dam has brought the national economy a total benefit of 78 billion lira in energy, irrigation and flood protection. In the same statement DSİ notes that the Seyhan River is about 600 kilometres long and feeds a basin of nearly 20,000 square kilometres. The lake is not only an engineering work but also a natural area. Seyhan Dam Lake and its surroundings were declared a Wildlife Development Area by a decision dated 13 September 2006. The municipality's travel guide mentions the lake as one of the favourite stopovers of migratory birds. In winter and in the transitional seasons the shallow coves along the shore offer good spots for watching waterbirds. On the slopes around the lake, hills covered with pine trees and small peninsulas reaching into the water catch the eye. An old city also lies beneath the lake. According to English Wikipedia, the Roman city of Augusta was discovered in 1955 during the construction of the dam and, after being partly excavated, was submerged by the waters of the reservoir. When the water level drops markedly, part of the remains becomes visible again. In recent years the amount of water in the lake has varied from year to year because of drought and evaporation, and the sediment accumulating on the lake bed has become the subject of scientific studies. That is why the same point on the shore may be under water one year and turn into a wide sandy strip the next. The lakeshore is a shared leisure space for the city. According to the municipality's guide, the shore road running along the lake is one of the most popular places for picnics and cycling. The same guide notes that Adana street treats such as bici bici can be found at small stalls along the shore. Since 2006 the lake has hosted one of the legs of the Turkish Offshore Championship, and in May 2011 it also hosted races of the world offshore championship. The most suitable time to visit is spring and autumn; midday in a Çukurova summer is very hot, so in summer the hours close to sunset are preferred. From the high ground on the western side of the shore, especially the slopes where the Çukurova University campus stands, the indented northwestern arm of the lake can be seen from a wide angle. The dam body and the power plant are an operational area; view the lake from the public shore areas of the city. When walking along the water with children, remember that the shore is steep and slippery in places. The lakeshore can be reached from the city centre by car, by taxi or by municipal bus; check current route information with the municipality's transport sources.