Alaca Dam

Alaca Dam is the collective name for a series of dams located in the Alaca district of Çorum province in Türkiye, designed for irrigation drinking water supply and flood control. They were constructed to support agricultural activities in the region, make more efficient use of water resources and reduce flood risks.

Alaca Dam – General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works

History and Significance

The Alaca region has historically been a significant center for water management. The Gölpınar Hittite Dam, constructed during the Hittite period and still visible in ruins today, dates back to the 13th century BCE. This structure is regarded as a major achievement in ancient hydraulic engineering. Additionally, the Örükaya Dam, located within the boundaries of Alaca district and dating from the Hittite period, is one of the ancient dams from the Roman era and has a history of approximately 2000 years.

Modern Dams and Irrigation Projects

Today, various dam and irrigation projects are carried out in Alaca district by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ). The most notable among them include:

• Koçhisar Dam: Used for both drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation. Thanks to the Koçhisar Drinking Water Conveyance Line, 2.54 million cubic meters of drinking water are delivered annually to Alaca district.
• Hitit Gökpınar Dam: An important dam constructed for agricultural irrigation.
• Alaca Küçükhırka Dam: Has a height of 32.94 meters and a water storage capacity of 522,000 cubic meters, with irrigation capacity for approximately 1,420 decares of agricultural land.
• Alaca Perçem Dam (in planning phase): Will have a water capacity of 600,000 cubic meters.
• Alaca İsmailli Pond: Has a water capacity of 700,000 cubic meters.
• Alaca Büyükhırka Pond: Has a water capacity of 800,000 cubic meters.
• Alaca Sincan Dam: Has a water storage capacity of 2 million cubic meters.

Agricultural and Economic Impacts

Thanks to the dam projects in Alaca, a total of 121,100 decares of agricultural land are now irrigated. Additionally, three flood protection structures have been built to safeguard thousands of dönüm land from flood risks.

The Alaca Dam and surrounding water management projects contribute to the local economy by increasing regional agricultural production. The water management legacy dating back to the Hittite period continues today through modern dam initiatives.