Çubuk-1 Dam is the first reinforced concrete dam constructed during the Republic of Turkey period. Located on the Çubuk Stream north of Ankara, the dam was designed to meet the capital city's drinking water demand as well as for agricultural irrigation, flood control, and recreational purposes.
History
In the early years of the Republic, faced with the rapidly increasing drinking water demand of Ankara's growing population, the authorities of the time sought permanent solutions. Under the guidance of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it was decided to construct a dam on the Çubuk Stream, and initial feasibility studies were conducted in 1927. The tender, opened in 1929, was awarded to Fomsis Ltd., with construction commencing in 1930 and completed in 1936. The inauguration ceremony took place on November 3, 1936, attended by Prime Minister İsmet İnönü and other state officials.
During the construction of the dam, technical equipment support was occasionally obtained from abroad, with tools and machinery imported especially from Germany. The project consultancy was undertaken by the German civil engineer Prof. Dr. Walther Kunze.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Observing the Çubuk-1 Dam (AA)
Technical Specifications
The dam body is a concrete gravity dam. It has a height of 58 meters from the foundation, a crest elevation of 908.61 meters, and a crest length of 250 meters. The dam body volume is constructed as 120,000 cubic meters. The catchment area is approximately 700 square kilometers, and the reservoir covers an area of 1.2 square kilometers. The reservoir length is 6.5 kilometers. The normal water level is 906.61 meters, with a storage capacity of 5.6 million cubic meters (hectometres). An average annual yield of 3 million cubic meters of drinking water was supplied from the dam. The spillway is gated and designed for the controlled discharge of floodwaters.
Function and Usage
From 1936 to 1994, the dam supplied Ankara's drinking water needs and was also used for agricultural irrigation and flood prevention. The surrounding area of the dam was transformed into a recreational site, with 50-55 hectares planted with pine, acacia, poplar, and various other trees. Additionally, a pavilion was constructed for Atatürk's rest. In 1994, the dam ceased to function effectively due to sedimentation and pollution caused by the discharge of the district's sewage and waste from nearby livestock farms into the Çubuk Stream.
Rehabilitation Process
As part of restoration efforts initiated by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in 2020, sediment removal was performed, and the dam began retaining water again in 2021. Since then, water from the dam has not been used for drinking purposes but is utilized solely for agricultural irrigation and landscape watering. The target water volume between the crest spillway and bottom outlet levels is approximately 7 million cubic meters.
Commemorative and Social Value
As one of the Republic’s first major infrastructure projects, the dam holds significant importance in terms of the urbanization policies of its time. Atatürk’s direct involvement during construction has highlighted the structure’s position within the political history. In 1941, operational authority was transferred from the Ministry of Public Works (Nafia Vekâleti) to Ankara Municipality. Following Atatürk’s final visit on May 7, 1938, the rest pavilion was repurposed for administrative use. Today, the dam surroundings continue to serve as recreational and rural-use areas.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Over the Çubuk-1 Dam (AA)
