Berdan River
The Berdan (also Baradān or Baradā), the ancient Cydnus (
Geography
The main headwaters are in the
Dams
There are four dams on Berdan. These are used both for controlling floods and for producing electricity.[2] But the lower reaches of the river flow in an agricultural area, and because of the pollution caused by fertilisers the dams in the lower reaches are not used for drinking water.
Name of the dam | Construction date | Installed power, MW [3] |
---|---|---|
Kadıncık I | 1971 | 70 |
Kadıncık II | 1974 | 56 |
Berdan | 1996 | 10 |
Pamukluk | 2003 | 23.9 |
Trivia
The Berdan River flows in one of the warmest regions of Turkey, but its upper reaches in the Toros Mountains make the water much cooler than the surrounding streams. History has two very well known accounts of health problems caused by swimming in the river. In 333 BC Alexander the Great and in 833 AD Caliph Al-Ma'mun both swam in the river and both fell ill (hypothermia or pneumonia?); Al Mamun died of the illness.
Cleopatra sailed up the river (older watercourse) and first met Mark Antony aboard her boat.
References
- ^ A report by University of Mersin (in English)
- ^ A report by Chamber of Electrical Engineers, Mersin Branch[permanent dead link] (in Turkish)
- ^ 1 MW. = 106 W.