Botan River
Encyclopedia
The Botan River is a tributary
of the Tigris River in Siirt Province
of southeastern Turkey
.
It originates in the high mountains west of the Nordüz Plateau, which form the border of Siirt Province to Hakkari
and Van
, and flows eastwards before it turns to the northwest. The river has shaped a canyon
on its way. The altitude difference between the valley and the top of the mountains reaches about 1000 m (3,280.8 ft).
The rivers Çatak and Büyükdere join it at Çukurca
in Hakkari Province
, after which it is named Botan Suyu (Uluçay). Running westwards by east of Aydınlar
and Siirt
, it reaches Bostancık
locality. Here, the rivers Zorava and Bitlis join the Botan. Finally at Çattepe in Siirt Province, it joins the Tigris River, after which the Tigris sharply turns southwards.
The discharge
of Botan River from spring to mid-summer averages about 100–300 m³/s , while it reaches in April and June about 400–600 m³/s (14,000–21,000 cu ft/s, and in May it peaks at about 700–1,000 m³/s (25,000–35,000 cu ft/s and sometimes more. At this time, it looks much bigger than the Tigris River. At the end of summer or in the fall, its depth is not less than 1 metres (3.3 ft), and its outflow not less than around 60–80 m³/s .
Crossing is only possible by boat. The river runs in narrow, deep and steep valleys. Lowlands are rare on its way, preventing it use for irrigation
.
The construction of the first dam and hydroelectric plant just below Aydınlar (Tillo) district has already started. Officially named the "Alkumru Dam
", it is also locally called the "Tillo Dam" due to the native name of the district. It is a rock-fill dam of height 110 m (360.9 ft) having 222 MW installed capacity. The amount of energy to be generated is 812 GWh, of which 350 GWh is firm energy The mean annual discharge is 129 m³/s .
The "Çetin Dam", another dam and hydroelectric plant contracted for, will have 350 MW power capacity and 1,240 GWh of energy. The total investment amount for the project is expected to be approximately US$450 million.
historian Xenophon
(ca. 431 – 355 BC), pupil of Socrates
, mentions the crossing of the river Kentrites (the Botan) in his Anabasis
("The Expedition" or "The March Up Country"), §151.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Tigris River in Siirt Province
Siirt Province
Siirt Province is a province of Turkey, located in the southeast. The province borders Bitlis to the north, Batman to the west, Mardin to the southwest, Şırnak to the south, and Van to the east. It has an area of 5,406 km² and a total population of 300,695...
of southeastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
It originates in the high mountains west of the Nordüz Plateau, which form the border of Siirt Province to Hakkari
Hakkari Province
Hakkâri Province is a province in the south east corner of Turkey. The administrative centre is located in the city of Hakkâri . The province covers an area of 7,121 km² and has a population of 251,302 . The province had a population of 236,581 in 2000.The province was created in 1936 out of...
and Van
Van Province
Van Province is a province in eastern Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border. It is 19,069 km2 in area and had a population of 1,035,418 at the end of 2010....
, and flows eastwards before it turns to the northwest. The river has shaped a canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
on its way. The altitude difference between the valley and the top of the mountains reaches about 1000 m (3,280.8 ft).
The rivers Çatak and Büyükdere join it at Çukurca
Çukurca
Çukurca is a district of Hakkari Province of Turkey. The mayor is Mehmet Kanar . The population is 5283 as of 2010....
in Hakkari Province
Hakkari Province
Hakkâri Province is a province in the south east corner of Turkey. The administrative centre is located in the city of Hakkâri . The province covers an area of 7,121 km² and has a population of 251,302 . The province had a population of 236,581 in 2000.The province was created in 1936 out of...
, after which it is named Botan Suyu (Uluçay). Running westwards by east of Aydınlar
Aydinlar
Aydınlar is a district of Siirt Province of Turkey. In Arabic its old name was TilloSyriac language Tillo means holy spirits. In 1514 reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim take Tillo to Ottoman empire at Çaldıran Victory. After Tillo became a district of Siirt it named Aydınlar.It has an ancient cultural and...
and Siirt
Siirt
- External links :* * * *...
, it reaches Bostancık
Bostancık
Bostancık is an agricultural village in Turkey, 25 km east of Besni and 30 km south of Adıyaman. Its altitude is 1050m. Bostancık is best-known for its aggressive dogs and high quality pale-coloured raisins.Bostancık is a village of Besni, a district....
locality. Here, the rivers Zorava and Bitlis join the Botan. Finally at Çattepe in Siirt Province, it joins the Tigris River, after which the Tigris sharply turns southwards.
The discharge
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
of Botan River from spring to mid-summer averages about 100–300 m³/s , while it reaches in April and June about 400–600 m³/s (14,000–21,000 cu ft/s, and in May it peaks at about 700–1,000 m³/s (25,000–35,000 cu ft/s and sometimes more. At this time, it looks much bigger than the Tigris River. At the end of summer or in the fall, its depth is not less than 1 metres (3.3 ft), and its outflow not less than around 60–80 m³/s .
Crossing is only possible by boat. The river runs in narrow, deep and steep valleys. Lowlands are rare on its way, preventing it use for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
.
Dams
For the purpose of building hydroelectric power plants , studies have been carried out on several places at the river. Seven dams in different sizes are planned be built on the Botan River.The construction of the first dam and hydroelectric plant just below Aydınlar (Tillo) district has already started. Officially named the "Alkumru Dam
Alkumru Dam
The Alkumru Dam is an rock-fill embankment dam on the Botan River, located east of Siirt in Siirt Province, Turkey. The dam was constructed between 2008 and 2011. It was inaugurated by President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 19 May 2011. Its primary purpose is...
", it is also locally called the "Tillo Dam" due to the native name of the district. It is a rock-fill dam of height 110 m (360.9 ft) having 222 MW installed capacity. The amount of energy to be generated is 812 GWh, of which 350 GWh is firm energy The mean annual discharge is 129 m³/s .
The "Çetin Dam", another dam and hydroelectric plant contracted for, will have 350 MW power capacity and 1,240 GWh of energy. The total investment amount for the project is expected to be approximately US$450 million.
In history
GreekAncient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
historian Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
(ca. 431 – 355 BC), pupil of Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
, mentions the crossing of the river Kentrites (the Botan) in his Anabasis
Anabasis (Xenophon)
Anabasis is the most famous work, in seven books, of the Greek professional soldier and writer Xenophon. The journey it narrates is his best known accomplishment and "one of the great adventures in human history," as Will Durant expressed the common assessment.- The account :Xenophon accompanied...
("The Expedition" or "The March Up Country"), §151.