Saturday 8 September 2007

Turkish dam threatens ancient city


This dam - which would be the second largest in Turkey by volume of water - is to be sited on the upper Tigris River, in the south-east of the country.
The Turkish government says the project, planned for more than 20 years, will provide much-needed hydro-electric energy and jobs in a poor region.
But opponents believe it will ruin the area's environment and cultural heritage, as well as displacing more than 50,000 people.
Among hundreds of sites to be flooded would be the ancient town of Hasankeyf, considered an archaeological treasure and home to at least 3,800 people.
There is an excellent video here from the BBC on the positive and negative effects of dam building. This Turkish example can be used in both the Higher and Int 2 papers. Read, listen AND take notes folks.

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