Lake Amik
Encyclopedia
Lake Amik or the Lake of Antioch was a large freshwater lake
in the basin of the Orontes River
in Hatay Province
, Turkey
; it was located north-east of the ancient city of Antioch
(modern Antakya
). The lake was drained during a period from the 1940s-1970s.
and historically covered an area of some 300-350 square kilometres, increasing during flood periods. It was surrounded by extensive marsh
land.
Sedimentary analysis has suggested that Lake Amik was formed, in its final state, in the past 3000 years by episodic floods and silting up of the outlet to the Orontes. This dramatic increase in the lake's area had displaced many settlements during the classical period;
the lake became an important source of fish and shellfish for the surrounding area and the city of Antioch. The 14th century Arab
geographer Abu al-Fida
described the lake as having sweet water and being twenty miles (32 km) long and seven wide, while an 18th century traveller, Richard Pococke
, noted that it was then locally called "Bahr-Agoule (the White Lake) by reaſon of the colour of its waters".
By the 20th century, the lake supported around 50,000 inhabitants in 70 villages, who took part in stock raising, reed harvesting, fishing (with a particularly significant eel
fishery) and agriculture, crops and fodder being grown on pastures formed during the summer as the lake waters receded. They also constructed dwellings, locally known as Huğ, from reeds gathered in the lake.
routes of waterfowl
and other birds, especially White Stork
s and pelican
s, and was noted for an isolated breeding population of the African Darter
. It also supported populations of endemic birds; a possible distinct subspecies
of the Black Francolin
(Francolinus francolinus billypayni) and the similarly distinct Southern Turkish Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus kosswigi). A Ray-finned fish species Hemigrammocapoeta caudomaculata
was only known from Lake Amik, while cyprinid
Barbus canis
(Tor canis) was found nowhere else in Turkey.
With the draining of the lake, the endemic bird and fish species have become extinct; the region's biodiversity
was further harmed by the fact that one of the few similar habitats, Lake Hula in northern Israel
, was also drained in the 1950s.
and to eliminate malaria
. A major drainage project, channeling the lake's tributary rivers (the Karasu
, the ancient Labotas, and the 'Afrin
, the ancient Arceuthus or Arxeuthas) directly to the Orontes was undertaken from 1966 by the State Hydraulic Works
, with further works completed by the early 1970s; by this time the lake had been completely drained, and its bed reclaimed for farmland.
As of 2007, Hatay Airport
has been constructed in the centre of the lakebed.
There have increasingly been reports that the draining of Lake Amik has caused severe environmental damage. Reclaimed and irrigated land has been affected by increasing soil salinity, and productivity has fallen. Despite the drainage works, many areas still regularly flood, requiring constant maintenance of drainage canals and further decreasing the productivity of the reclaimed farmland, while the water table
has fallen dramatically from an average of 20 metres to 400 metres at some points. The fall in underground water levels has been implicated in causing an increasing amount of subsidence and serious damage to buildings.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the basin of the Orontes River
Orontes River
The Orontes or ‘Āṣī is a river of Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.It was anciently the chief river of the Levant, also called Draco, Typhon and Axius...
in Hatay Province
Hatay Province
Hatay Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Syria to the south and east and the Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye to the north. The province is part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region that covers the provinces 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...
; it was located north-east of the ancient city of Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
(modern Antakya
Antakya
Antakya is the seat of the Hatay Province in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. The mayor is Lütfü Savaş.Known as Antioch in ancient times, the city has historical significance for Christianity, as it was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first...
). The lake was drained during a period from the 1940s-1970s.
Hydrology, history
Lake Amik was located in the centre of Amik Plain on the northernmost part of the Dead Sea TransformDead Sea Transform
The Dead Sea Transform fault system, also sometimes referred to as the Dead Sea Rift, is a geologic fault which runs from the Maras Triple Junction to the northern end of the Red Sea Rift...
and historically covered an area of some 300-350 square kilometres, increasing during flood periods. It was surrounded by extensive marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
land.
Sedimentary analysis has suggested that Lake Amik was formed, in its final state, in the past 3000 years by episodic floods and silting up of the outlet to the Orontes. This dramatic increase in the lake's area had displaced many settlements during the classical period;
the lake became an important source of fish and shellfish for the surrounding area and the city of Antioch. The 14th century Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
geographer Abu al-Fida
Abu'l-Fida
Abu al-Fida or Abul Fida Ismail Hamvi was a Kurdish historian, geographer, and local sultan...
described the lake as having sweet water and being twenty miles (32 km) long and seven wide, while an 18th century traveller, Richard Pococke
Richard Pococke
Richard Pococke was an English prelate and anthropologist. He was Protestant Bishop of Ossory and Meath , both dioceses of the Church of Ireland...
, noted that it was then locally called "Bahr-Agoule (the White Lake) by reaſon of the colour of its waters".
By the 20th century, the lake supported around 50,000 inhabitants in 70 villages, who took part in stock raising, reed harvesting, fishing (with a particularly significant eel
European eel
The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is a species of eel, a snake-like, catadromous fish. They can reach in exceptional cases a length of 1½ m, but are normally much smaller, about 60–80 cm, and rarely more than 1 m....
fishery) and agriculture, crops and fodder being grown on pastures formed during the summer as the lake waters receded. They also constructed dwellings, locally known as Huğ, from reeds gathered in the lake.
Ecology
Lake Amik was an extremely valuable habitat on the migratoryBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
routes of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
and other birds, especially White Stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
s and pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s, and was noted for an isolated breeding population of the African Darter
African Darter
The African Darter , sometimes called the Snakebird, is a water bird of sub-Saharan Africa.-Taxonomy:The African Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American , Oriental , and Australian Darters.-Description:The male is mainly glossy...
. It also supported populations of endemic birds; a possible distinct subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Black Francolin
Black Francolin
The Black Francolin, Francolinus francolinus, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It was formerly known as the Black Partridge.-Identification:...
(Francolinus francolinus billypayni) and the similarly distinct Southern Turkish Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus kosswigi). A Ray-finned fish species Hemigrammocapoeta caudomaculata
Hemigrammocapoeta caudomaculata
Hemigrammocapoeta caudomaculata is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family.It is found only in Turkey.Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater lakes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
was only known from Lake Amik, while cyprinid
Cyprinid
The family Cyprinidae, from the Ancient Greek kyprînos , consists of the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives . Commonly called the carp family or the minnow family, its members are also known as cyprinids...
Barbus canis
Barbus canis
Carasobarbus canis is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is still placed in the old "wastebin genus" Barbus by the IUCN....
(Tor canis) was found nowhere else in Turkey.
With the draining of the lake, the endemic bird and fish species have become extinct; the region's biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
was further harmed by the fact that one of the few similar habitats, Lake Hula in northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, was also drained in the 1950s.
Draining
Draining and reclamation of areas around the lake commenced in 1940, in order to free land for growing cottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and to eliminate malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. A major drainage project, channeling the lake's tributary rivers (the Karasu
Karasu (Hatay)
The Karasu or Aswad is a river in the provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay in Turkey. For part of its length it forms the border with Aleppo Governorate in Syria. It joins the Afrin River at the site of the former Lake Amik, and its waters now flow to the Orontes by a canal....
, the ancient Labotas, and the 'Afrin
Afrin River
The Afrin River is a tributary of the Orontes River in Turkey and Syria. It rises in the Kartal Mountains in Gaziantep Province, Turkey, flows south through the city of Afrin in Syria, then reenters Turkey. It joins the Karasu at the site of the former Lake Amik, and its waters now flow to the...
, the ancient Arceuthus or Arxeuthas) directly to the Orontes was undertaken from 1966 by the 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...
, with further works completed by the early 1970s; by this time the lake had been completely drained, and its bed reclaimed for farmland.
As of 2007, Hatay Airport
Hatay Airport
Hatay Airport is an international airport in Hatay, Turkey serving the city of Antakya. Inaugurated in December 2007, it is 19 km far from the city.-Airlines and destinations:- Traffic Statistics :Source: DHMI.gov.tr...
has been constructed in the centre of the lakebed.
There have increasingly been reports that the draining of Lake Amik has caused severe environmental damage. Reclaimed and irrigated land has been affected by increasing soil salinity, and productivity has fallen. Despite the drainage works, many areas still regularly flood, requiring constant maintenance of drainage canals and further decreasing the productivity of the reclaimed farmland, while the water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
has fallen dramatically from an average of 20 metres to 400 metres at some points. The fall in underground water levels has been implicated in causing an increasing amount of subsidence and serious damage to buildings.