Seyhan River
Encyclopedia
The Seyhan River is the longest river in Turkey
that is flowing into Mediterranean Sea
. The river is 560 km and flows southwest from its headwaters in the Tahtalı-Mountains (provinces Sivas and Kayseri
) in Anti-Taurus Mountains
to the Mediterranean Sea
via a broad delta. Its main tributaries are Zamantı
and Göksu which unite in Aladağ
, Adana
to form Seyhan River. Zamantı River
originates from Uzun Plateau in Pınarbaşı
, Kayseri
and crosses Tomarza
, Develi
and Yahyalı
districts of Kayseri
.
In ancient times, it was called the Sarus, and its plain was called the Cilicia
n plain.
50 km from its mouth, Seyhan River flows through the city of Adana
, the only settlement situated on the river. Several bridges and footbridges cross the river in Adana
including Stone Bridge
, a 4th century Roman bridge
. The river meets Mediterranean Sea
at Cape Deli.
The major Seyhan Dam
upstream of Adana serves for irrigation
, hydroelectric power, and flood control
. Yedigöze and Çatalan are the other dams on Seyhan river which also serve the same purposes.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
that is flowing into Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. The river is 560 km and flows southwest from its headwaters in the Tahtalı-Mountains (provinces Sivas and Kayseri
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
) in Anti-Taurus Mountains
Anti-Taurus Mountains
Anti-Taurus is a mountain range in southern and eastern Turkey, curving northeast from the Taurus Mountains. The tallest mountain in the range is Mount Erciyes,...
to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
via a broad delta. Its main tributaries are Zamantı
Zamanti River
Zamantı River is a river in Central Anatolia, Turkey, crossing Kayseri Province in practically its whole course to join Seyhan River further south, of which it is the western, the longest and the most important tributary...
and Göksu which unite in Aladağ
Aladag
Aladağ, formerly Karsantı, is a small city and a district in Adana Province, Turkey about 100 km north of the city of Adana, up in the mountains. This is an undeveloped area, the people live from agriculture and forestry...
, Adana
Adana Province
Adana Province is a province of Turkey located in south-central Anatolia. With a population of 2,085,225, it is the fifth most populous province in Turkey. The administrative seat of the province is the city of Adana, home to 78% of the residents of the province...
to form Seyhan River. Zamantı River
Zamanti River
Zamantı River is a river in Central Anatolia, Turkey, crossing Kayseri Province in practically its whole course to join Seyhan River further south, of which it is the western, the longest and the most important tributary...
originates from Uzun Plateau in Pınarbaşı
Pinarbasi, Kayseri
Pınarbaşı is a town and district of Kayseri Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It was founded by Sultan Abdülaziz and was initially named Aziziye. After the formation of the Turkish Republic, Pınarbaşı was renamed with its current name. Pinasbasi is famous as its horses and very...
, Kayseri
Kayseri Province
The Kayseri Province , in central Turkey, is an area that has been linked with mythological stories as well as important figures in Turkish history. It is located in Anatolia, and surrounded by the Mount Erciyes, the Mount Hasan and the Mount Ali...
and crosses Tomarza
Tomarza
Tomarza is a town and district of Kayseri Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It seems that Tomarza was the center of an Armenian autonomy, along with Zeytun/Süleymanlı and Göksun in the 17th century. The mayor is Fahrettin Işık ....
, Develi
Develi
Develi is a town and district in Kayseri Province in Central Anatolia Region, Turkey.-History:The town's name is reported to derive from Devle Bey, a Seljuk commander of Alp Arslan, , and who was also named Dev Ali , and leader of an Oghuz Turkish clan of the same or of a similar name...
and Yahyalı
Yahyali
Yahyalı is a town and district in Kayseri Province of Turkey. It is the southernmost district of the province and its area is defined by the steep lines of the Taurus Mountains, named Aladağlar in their section through this region, and is crossed by the River Zamantı.A section within the...
districts of Kayseri
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
.
In ancient times, it was called the Sarus, and its plain was called the Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
n plain.
50 km from its mouth, Seyhan River flows through the city of Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
, the only settlement situated on the river. Several bridges and footbridges cross the river in Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
including Stone Bridge
Stone Bridge (Adana)
- External links :**...
, a 4th century Roman bridge
Roman bridge
Roman bridges, built by ancient Romans, were the first large and lasting bridges built. Roman bridges were built with stone and had the arch as its basic structure....
. The river meets Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
at Cape Deli.
The major Seyhan Dam
Seyhan Dam
The Seyhan Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Seyhan River north of Adana, TurkeyThe dam was built in the 1950s as the first in a series of hydroelectric projects funded by the World Bank. The construction project was authorized by Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. The project manager was Süleyman...
upstream of Adana serves 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...
, hydroelectric power, and flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
. Yedigöze and Çatalan are the other dams on Seyhan river which also serve the same purposes.
External links