Karasu (Euphrates)
Encyclopedia
The Karasu or Western Euphrates is a long river in eastern Turkey
, one of the two sources of the Euphrates
. It has a length of about 450 km. To the ancient Greeks the river was known as the Τηλεβόας (Teleboas).
, and drains the plains around the city of Erzurum
. It is joined by the Serçeme River, then flows west through Erzincan Province
, turning south, then west and receiving the tributary Tuzla Su. Between Erzincan
and Kemah
it is joined by the Gönye River and passes through a rocky gorge. Near the small town of Kemaliye
it receives its last tributary, the Çaltısuyu, before turning sharply southeast to flow through a deep canyon into the Keban Dam
Lake on the Euphrates. Before construction of the Keban Dam the Karasu joined the Murat River
10 km above the dam site and 13 km above the town of Keban
.
Karasu relief, a religious water-shrine. It was a sanctuary created by the Late Hittite dynasts out of rock bluffs near the village of Sűpűrgűc, above the river shortly before its confluence with the Murat River. The relief shows a stag
being held by a man, in front of a solar disk. The stag's antlers have 16 points which is a feature not found in any other representation in Hittite art.
When temperatures in Turkey dropped below -25°C in 2005 the river froze over was used as a football pitch by locals.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, one of the two sources of the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
. It has a length of about 450 km. To the ancient Greeks the river was known as the Τηλεβόας (Teleboas).
Course
The river rises on the Dumlu Dağ in Erzurum ProvinceErzurum Province
Erzurum Province is a Province of Turkey, in the Eastern Anatolia Region of the country. It is bordered by the provinces of Kars and Ağrı to the east, Muş and Bingöl to the south, Erzincan and Bayburt to the west, Rize and Artvin to the north and Ardahan to the northeast. The provincial capital is...
, and drains the plains around the city of Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
. It is joined by the Serçeme River, then flows west through Erzincan Province
Erzincan Province
Erzincan Province is a province in the eastern region of Anatolia, Turkey, and home to Erzincan, a city which was destroyed and rebuilt after an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on December 27, 1939...
, turning south, then west and receiving the tributary Tuzla Su. Between Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
and Kemah
Kemah, Turkey
Kemah is a town and district of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.Kemah is a town with a present population of 2141...
it is joined by the Gönye River and passes through a rocky gorge. Near the small town of Kemaliye
Kemaliye
Kemaliye is a both a town in and one of the nine districts of Erzincan Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.The town is known for its historic architecture, including many Ottoman-era houses...
it receives its last tributary, the Çaltısuyu, before turning sharply southeast to flow through a deep canyon into the Keban Dam
Keban Dam
The Keban Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Euphrates, located in the Elazığ Province of Turkey. The dam was the first and most upstream of several large-scale dams to be built on the Euphrates by Turkey...
Lake on the Euphrates. Before construction of the Keban Dam the Karasu joined the Murat River
Murat River
The Murat River or Eastern Euphrates is the major source of the Euphrates. It was also called Arsanias in antiquity. The river originates near Mount Ararat north of Lake Van, in eastern Turkey, and flows westward for through mountainous area...
10 km above the dam site and 13 km above the town of Keban
Keban
Keban is a town and district of Elâzığ Province of Turkey. The mayor is Hadi Turan . The population is 4857.Keban is at the west of Elazığ Province and 46 km. far away from province center. At the east of Keban, there is Elazığ Province...
.
Hittite remains
The Karasu river is home to the Late HittiteHittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
Karasu relief, a religious water-shrine. It was a sanctuary created by the Late Hittite dynasts out of rock bluffs near the village of Sűpűrgűc, above the river shortly before its confluence with the Murat River. The relief shows a stag
STAG
STAG: A Test of Love is a reality TV show hosted by Tommy Habeeb. Each episode profiles an engaged couple a week or two before their wedding. The cameras then follow the groom on his bachelor party...
being held by a man, in front of a solar disk. The stag's antlers have 16 points which is a feature not found in any other representation in Hittite art.
History
In 1996, 15 Turkish soldiers were killed when their personnel carrier fell into the river during a routine crossing.When temperatures in Turkey dropped below -25°C in 2005 the river froze over was used as a football pitch by locals.