The Dilimli Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam

Embankment dam

An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...

 on the Büyük River, located 9 km (6 mi) northeast of Yüksekova

Yüksekova

Yüksekova is a district of Hakkari Province of Turkey, situated close to the border with Iran. Its location on the trade route between Iranian Azarbaijan and eastern Turkey made it an important juncture for travelers and the location of several ethnic groups that were active in regional trade....

 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...

, 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...

. Construction on the project began in 1995 after the main contract was awarded in 1994. Construction on all works is expected to be complete in 2012. Development is backed by the Turkish State Hydraulic Works

State Hydraulic Works (Turkey)

The State Hydraulic Works is a state agency organized under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey responsible for the utilization of country's all water resources...

. The primary purpose of the dam is water supply and it will divert water into a 505 m (1,657 ft) long tunnel for the irrigation of 9142 ha (22,590 acre).