Su altında kalan 12 bin yıllık Hasankeyf, teknelerle gezilecek

Tour boats have been launched in the historic Hasankeyf district of Batman province, which was submerged by the Veysel Eroğlu (Ilısu) Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project. These boats, which will be ready after assembly and tender, will offer the opportunity to see the historical remains up close and from the water. Investors in the region, where port construction is underway, are waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to end. Hasankeyf Mayor Abdulvahap Kusen stated that the historic district has a bright tourism future. Investors in Diyarbakır, Batman, Mardin, Siirt, and Şırnak, where the Tigris River flows through the Veysel Eroğlu (Ilısu) Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant, one of the most important facilities of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), the world's longest dam in terms of dam size and Türkiye's fourth largest in terms of power, are hopeful of new employment opportunities. During the dam's construction, a 300 million Turkish Lira investment was spent on the new settlement, located 3 kilometers from the Hasankeyf district. The historic Artuklu Bath, Sultan Süleyman Koç Mosque, İmam Abdullah Zawiya, Er-Rızık Mosque minaret, Zeynel Abidin Tomb, Eyyubi (Girls) Mosque, and the central entrance gate of the castle were dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt after being transported to the Cultural Park on the banks of the Tigris River. The commissioning of the dam, which will pave the way for employment in various sectors and contribute $412 million annually to the national economy, was greeted with joy by the local population. Investors in Hasankeyf, a district of Batman province with a 12,000-year history submerged under the dam's waters, have purchased boats to organize tours for visitors to the region, where the rising waters reveal unique landscapes. Tours will begin after the tender for the boats, which have been launched but are still being assembled. Tourists visiting the region will have the opportunity to see historical artifacts and submerged remains up close on tour boats. Those optimistic about the region's tourism, agriculture, and livestock development, where construction of floating ports that can rise and fall according to water levels, are waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to end. "HASANKEYF'S TOURISM FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT" Hasankeyf Mayor Abdulvahap Kusen stated that they are working to develop the region's tourism sector. Kusen noted that the region, known for its water and cultural tourism, is the focus of the project. He noted that work has been slow this year due to the pandemic, but that the region will see an influx of visitors next year. Mayor Kusen said the following: "We are holding meetings at our governor's office regarding tourism, exploring how we can develop it. The government, members of parliament, and our party are strongly supporting this. A wide variety of projects are being developed. From water tourism to cultural tourism and paragliding, these alternatives are all on the table. But of course, Hasankeyf is an area known for its cultural tourism. This is one of the most focal points in the GAP tourism field, especially when considered basin-wise. We have existing castles for the development of cultural tourism. Work on these areas is ongoing. The region's largest museum is being established in Hasankeyf. The area within the cultural area, which we call 'Culture Park,' where artifacts from the old settlement are being relocated, will create a very beautiful view along the lakeshore with landscaping. The landscaping project, which will create a unified whole with the relocated Roman-era artifacts, the Artuqid Bathhouse and the Imam Abdullah Zawiya, and the mosques, social complexes, and minarets from the Ayyubid period, will be Hasankeyf's most significant tourism potential. Of course, I am very confident that this will include boat tours, especially in Batman. I've seen the area between the Kantar Bridge and Hasankeyf. There's a truly magnificent landscape there. Hopefully, we'll see that happen. Tourists will be able to travel on boat tours in this area, where they'll experience a much more beautiful view than the Bosphorus. So, Hasankeyf's tourism future looks bright. This year, the pandemic and coronavirus are progressing a bit slowly, but hopefully, Hasankeyf will also generate economic revenue and income for us next season.