Altınkaya Dam, Embankment dam in Samsun Province, Turkey
Altınkaya Dam is an embankment dam stretching 634 m across the Kızılırmak River with a height of 195 m, holding back a large volume of water. The structure houses four turbines for electricity generation.
Construction took place between 1980 and 1988 as part of Turkey's expansion of hydroelectric power. This project represented a major step forward in regional energy development.
The reservoir created by this structure formed new water bodies in a region with established settlements, where local springs remain part of daily life.
The dam sits in a broad valley with good access from local roads. The best views of the entire structure come from vantage points around the reservoir's edge.
The Şahinkaya Canyon, the reservoir's narrowest section, displays vertical rock walls carved by water erosion over millions of years. These formations give visitors a window into the area's geological past.
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