The Effects of Dams on The Spatial Reorganization: The Case of Melen Dam

43663

Even though the dams of various sizes, constructed in order for the streams to be taken under control and the water resources to be used more efficiently, provide economic benefits, they also cause deep ecological, spatial and socio-cultural changes to be experienced at the site they are constructed on.Dams, which are majorly built in Turkey in order to serve energy and irrigation purposes, most prominently have the function of providing drinking and domestic water and this is particularly true for the ones that are in the proximity of large metropolitan areas.The fundamental purpose of the Melen dam, which is the subject of our study, is to provide drinking and domestic water for Istanbul but this dam differentiates itself by being located 170 km away from the metropolitan area, which it will be serving.The dam, which is being constructed on the Büyük Melen River, will cause four settlements in the drainage basin, one of which is a town and three of which are villages, to submerge. Within this framework, it will cause the Ortaköy (Lahna) town, which is in the Kocaali district of the Sakarya province and Beyler, Karalar and Köyyeri village settlements to submerge and the population residing in these settlements will have to migrate to other locations. Also, the lands, if not the settlement areas, of Açmabaşı, Karapelit, Koğukpelit and Çukurköy villages will be impacted by the dam.The dam, which will provide a solution to the water problem of Istanbul to a large extent, carries different meanings for the local community. The emotional damage they will suffer as a result of having to abandon their villages as well as the problems experienced in the expropriation processes and the uncertainties that have arisen concerning relocation have emerged as significant issues.The purpose of this study is to examine the environmental impacts of the dams using the example of the Melen dam. The study, within this framework, consists of topics such as the geographical characteristics of the area, the changes that will occur after the construction of the dam and the problems experienced.

439

Istanbul , Melen River , Melen Dam , Ortaköy Town , spatial effect

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education

464

International Journal of Geography and Geography Education