Birecik Dam

{{Infobox dam

| name = Birecik Dam

| image = Birecik dam-GAP.jpg

| image_caption =

| name_official =

| dam_crosses = Euphrates River

| location = Turkey

| dam_type = Gravity dam

| dam_length =

| dam_height = {{Convert|62.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_base =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| construction_began =

| opening =2000

| cost =

| owner =

| res_name = Reservoir

| res_capacity_total =

| res_catchment = {{Convert|92700|ha|mi2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface =

| res_max_depth =

| plant_operator =

| plant_turbines = 6 × 112 MW

| plant_capacity = 672 MW

| plant_annual_gen = 2,500 GWh

| plant_commission =2000-2001

| plant_decommission =

| location_map = Turkey

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|37|03|12|N|37|53|24|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| website =

| extra =

}}

The Birecik Dam, one of the 21 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project of Turkey, is located on the Euphrates River {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} downstream of Atatürk Dam and {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} upstream of Birecik town {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Province of Şanlıurfa in the southeastern region of Turkey. It was purposed for irrigation and energy production. There is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant, established in 2001, at the dam, with a power output of 672MW (six units at 112 MW each) can generate an average of 2.5 billion kWh per year.{{cite web | url=http://www.verbundplanbirecik.com.tr/ct/en/index.html | title=The design & the management of the hydro power plant birecik | publisher=Verbundplanbirecik | access-date=5 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221160523/http://www.verbundplanbirecik.com.tr/ct/en/index.html | archive-date=21 February 2014 | url-status=dead }} The Birecik dam is a structure consisting of a concrete gravity and clay core sandgravel fill with a height of {{convert|62.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the foundation. It was designed by Coyne et Bellier. The total catchment area is {{convert|92700|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www2.dsi.gov.tr/baraj/detayeng.cfm?BarajID=193|title=General information on Birecik Dam, Turkey|access-date=2011-06-07|author=State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), Turkey|author-link=State Hydraulic Works (Turkey)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325020941/http://www2.dsi.gov.tr/baraj/detayeng.cfm?BarajID=193|archive-date=2012-03-25}} The Birecik project will be realized under the status of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

The dam was built on top of the ruins of the ancient city of Zeugma. According to Bogumil Terminski (2015), the construction of the dam resulted in resettlement of approximately 6,000 people.Bogumil Terminski, Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement: Causes, Consequences, and Socio-Legal Context, Ibidem Press, Stuttgart, 2015.