| Botan River | |
|---|---|
Botan |
|
| Mouth | Tigris River |
| Basin countries | Turkey |
| Avg. discharge | 100–300 m³/s (3,500–11,000 cu ft/s) |
The Botan River (Turkish: Botan Çayı, Botan Suyu aka Uluçay) is a tributary of the Tigris River in Siirt Province of southeastern Turkey.
It originates in the high mountains west of the Nordüz Plateau, which form the border of Siirt Province to Hakkari and Van, and flows eastwards before it turns to the northwest. The river has shaped a canyon on its way. The altitude difference between the valley and the top of the mountains reaches about 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1]
The rivers Çatak and Büyükdere join it at Çukurca in Hakkari Province, after which it is named Botan Suyu (Uluçay). Running westwards by east of Aydınlar and Siirt, it reaches Bostancık locality. Here, the rivers Zorava and Bitlis join the Botan. Finally at Çattepe in Siirt Province, it joins the Tigris River, after which the Tigris sharply turns southwards.[1]
The discharge of Botan River from spring to mid-summer averages about 100–300 m³/s (3,500–11,000 cu ft/s), while it reaches in April and June about 400–600 m³/s (14,000–21,000 cu ft/s, and in May it peaks at about 700–1,000 m³/s (25,000–35,000 cu ft/s and sometimes more. At this time, it looks much bigger than the Tigris River.[1] At the end of summer or in the fall, its depth is not less than 1 metre (3.3 ft), and its outflow not less than around 60–80 m³/s (2,100–2,800 cu ft/s).[1]
Crossing is only possible by boat. The river runs in narrow, deep and steep valleys. Lowlands are rare on its way, preventing it use for irrigation.[1]
For the purpose of building hydroelectric power plants , studies have been carried out on several places at the river.[1] Seven dams in different sizes are planned be built on the Botan River.[2]
The construction of the first dam and hydroelectric plant just below Aydınlar (Tillo) district has already started. Officially named the "Alkumru Dam", it is also locally called the "Tillo Dam" due to the native name of the district.[2] It is a rock-fill dam of height 110 m (360 ft) having 222 MW installed capacity. The amount of energy to be generated is 812 GWh, of which 350 GWh is firm energy The mean annual discharge is 129 m³/s (4,600 cu ft/s).[3]
The "Çetin Dam", another dam and hydroelectric plant contracted for, will have 350 MW power capacity and 1,240 GWh of energy. The total investment amount for the project is expected to be approximately US$450 million.[4]
Greek historian Xenophon (ca. 431 – 355 BC), pupil of Socrates, mentions the crossing of the river Kentrites (the Botan) in his Anabasis ("The Expedition" or "The March Up Country"), §151.
|
|||||||||||||||||