Yusufeli Dam

Yusufeli Dam
Yusufeli Dam is located in Turkey
Yusufeli Dam
Location of Yusufeli Dam in Turkey
Official nameYusufeli Barajı
CountryTurkey
LocationYusufeli, Artvin Province
Coordinates40°49′02″N 41°38′43″E / 40.81722°N 41.64528°E / 40.81722; 41.64528
StatusOperational
Construction beganFebruary 26, 2013
Opening date22 Nov 2022
Construction cost487 million (approx. US$270 million)
Owner(s)State Hydraulic Works
Dam and spillways
Type of damArch, double-curvature[1][2][3]
ImpoundsÇoruh River
Height270 m (886 ft)
Length490 m (1,608 ft)
Width (crest)15 m (49 ft)
Dam volume2,900,000 m3 (102,412,533 cu ft)
Spillway typeService, controlled chute
Spillway capacity8,000 m3/s (282,517 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesYusufeli Reservoir
Total capacity2,130,000,000 m3 (1,726,819 acre⋅ft)
Surface area33.63 km2 (13 sq mi)
Power Station
Turbines3 x 180 MW Francis turbines
Installed capacity540 MW
Annual generation1,705 GWh (est.)

The Yusufeli Dam is an arch dam on the Çoruh River near Yusufeli in Artvin Province within the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The Yusufeli Dam will be the second largest dam within the larger Çoruh River Development Plan, which plans to build 13 dams, of which two are operational and another two are under construction. The dam's main purpose is hydroelectric power production and it will support a 540 MW power station. The dam is controversial because of its projected impact on the biodiversity within its reservoir area along with the relocation of the locals.

On February 26, 2013, the foundation stone was laid in a ceremony attended by Minister of Forestry and Waterworks Veysel Eroğlu and Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik. It is expected that the construction of the dam will cost 487 million (approx. US$270 million).[4] The dam's opening date was initially set to May 29, 2018.[5] In 2018, the expected opening date was pushed back to 2021, and the dam became operational at the end of 2022.[6] As of 2023, Yusufeli Dam is the highest dam in Turkey and the 9th tallest dam in the world.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference limak was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Yusufely Dam: Dam Structural Calculation Turkey" (PDF). Poyry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Regional Office - Artvin". State Hydraulic Works. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Foundation of Turkey's tallest dam, Yusufeli, laid in Artvin". Today's Zaman. 2013-02-26. Archived from the original on 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  5. ^ "Canlı yayında ilginç pazarlık". Hürriyet Gündem (in Turkish). 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  6. ^ "Yusufeli locals face eviction, worried about future". Hurriyet Daily News. 18 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Türkiye'nin en yüksek barajının temeli atıldı". Sabah (in Turkish). 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-27.