15.08.2025 21:49
Due to the drought experienced at the Gelingüllü Dam in Esenli village of Yozgat, the water level has dropped, revealing ancient settlement areas that were submerged years ago.
Due to the drought, the water level at the Gelingüllü Dam in the Esenli village of Yozgat has dropped, revealing old settlement areas that were submerged years ago.
OLD SETTLEMENT EMERGED AS THE WATER LEVEL DROPPED IN THE DAM
Opened for irrigation purposes in 1994, the Gelingüllü Dam has been the lifeblood of agriculture and fishing in the region for years, irrigating an area of 20,474 hectares. Following the lack of expected rainfall and the effects of unconscious water usage, the dam's filling rate has reached its lowest levels in recent years.
Schools, municipal buildings, cemeteries, and various structures that were submerged have also come to light. Villagers experienced the excitement of seeing their old settlements, which were evacuated during the dam's construction, once again.
"OUR CHILDHOOD COMES TO MIND"
Muammer Aydın, who was born and raised in Esenli, told AA correspondent that he attended primary and secondary school here.
Describing how his childhood was spent here, Aydın said, "The houses across from the dam were not expropriated, they remained. The buildings are so solid that they haven't decayed or been damaged. It’s very emotional; our childhood was spent here. I came to see this place. The waters have receded significantly. Our childhood comes to mind, and you feel emotional things." he stated.
Durmuş Çetin also mentioned that he stayed in the village until he was 8-9 years old, and later moved to Antalya due to his father's work.
Stating that he returned to the village about 10 years ago, Çetin noted: "Our school, which was under water, has resurfaced. As a child, we used to play ball and marbles in the schoolyard, and we would go to the Quran course in our mosque. Seeing these places makes one emotional. Our old village has emerged. Our graves and the houses we lived in are now visible. I wish the waters had not receded, and the dam's filling rate had been high so that we could reminisce about our old days without feeling sad. The lack of water is not good for us. About 30% of our village's livelihood comes from fishing. The place where we are conducting the interview would normally be underwater; we couldn't have come here. Unfortunately, climate conditions and unconscious water usage have reduced the water level in the dam to around 10%."