| Yusufeli Dam | |
| Name Official: | Yusufeli Barajı |
| Location Map: | Turkey |
| Coordinates: | 40.8172°N 41.6453°W |
| Country: | Turkey |
| Location: | Yusufeli, Artvin Province |
| Status: | O |
| Construction Began: | February 26, 2013 |
| Opening: | 22 Nov 2022 |
| Cost: | 487 million (approx. US$270 million) |
| Owner: | State Hydraulic Works |
| Dam Type: | Arch, double-curvature[1] [2] |
| Dam Height: | 2700NaN0 |
| Dam Length: | 4900NaN0 |
| Dam Width Crest: | 150NaN0 |
| Dam Volume: | 29000000NaN0 |
| Dam Crosses: | Çoruh River |
| Spillway Type: | Service, controlled chute |
| Spillway Capacity: | 80000NaN0 |
| Res Name: | Yusufeli Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 2130000000m2 |
| Res Surface: | 33.630NaN0 |
| Plant Turbines: | 3 x 180 MW Francis turbines |
| Plant Capacity: | 540 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 1,705 GWh (est.) |
The Yusufeli Dam is an arch dam on the Çoruh River near Yusufeli in Artvin Province within the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The Yusufeli Dam will be the second largest dam within the larger Çoruh River Development Plan, which plans to build 13 dams, of which two are operational and another two are under construction. The dam's main purpose is hydroelectric power production and it will support a 540 MW power station. The dam is controversial because of its projected impact on the biodiversity within its reservoir area along with the relocation of the locals.
On February 26, 2013, the foundation stone was laid in a ceremony attended by Minister of Forestry and Waterworks Veysel Eroğlu and Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik. It is expected that the construction of the dam will cost 487 million (approx. US$270 million).[3] The dam's opening date was initially set to May 29, 2018.[4] In 2018, the expected opening date was pushed back to 2021, and the dam became operational at the end of 2022.[5] As of 2023, Yusufeli Dam is the highest dam in Turkey and the 9th tallest dam in the world.[6]
The first studies on the Yusufeli Dam were carried out in the 1970s and it was included in the Coruh River Hydropower Development Master Plan in 1982. The feasibility report was completed in 1986 and the project was added to the national plan in 1997.
Situated 70km (40miles) southwest of Artvin, the Yusufeli will be a double-curvature arch dam with a height of 2700NaN0 from its foundation and 2230NaN0 from the river's thalweg (lowest point of river bed). It will have a crest length of 4900NaN0 and crest width of 150NaN0 while being composed of 29000000NaN0 of concrete.[7]
The dam's crest will sit at an altitude of 7150NaN0 above sea level while the normal operating level of its reservoir will be 7100NaN0, maximum will be 7120NaN0 and the minimum 6700NaN0. The reservoir surface area of 330NaN0 will have a total storage capacity of 2130000000m2 and an active or "useful" storage of 1080000000m2. The dam's spillway will be a service controlled chute type with a maximum discharge capacity of 80000NaN0.[7]
The dam will have an underground power station that is 1100NaN0 long, 21.40NaN0 wide and 45.20NaN0 high. Within the power station will be 3 x 180 MW vertical shaft Francis turbines.[7]
Design activities will be carried out by Su-Yapi Engineering and Consulting Inc.
Construction is to be carried out by a Limak Holding-Cengiz Holding-Kolin consortium.[8]
If built, Yusufeli Dam is expected to have significant biological impacts including:
| +Nationally rare plants threatened by the Yusufeli Dam | |||
| Species | Endemic | Threat level | Distribution in Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reseda globosa | No | Critically endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Lathyrus woronowii | Endemic | Critically endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Ferula mervinii | Endemic | Critically endangered | Yusufeli & its vicinity |
| Anthemis calcarea var calcarea | Endemic | Critically endangered | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Anthemis calcarea var discoidea | Endemic | Critically endangered | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Centaurea straminicephala | Endemic | Critically endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Centaurea leptophylla | Endemic | Critically endangered | Yusufeli & its vicinity |
| Clypeola raddeana | Endemic | Endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Morina persica var decussatifolia | Endemic | Endangered | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Campanula troegeraeƒ | Endemic | Endangered | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Verbascum gracilescens | Endemic | Endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Asperula virgata | Endemic | Endangered | Coruh Valley |
| Acer divergens var divergens | Endemic | Vulnerable | Coruh Valley |
| Sempervivum staintonii | Endemic | Vulnerable | Coruh Valley |
| Seseli andronakii | Endemic | Vulnerable | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Bupleurum brachiatum | Endemic | Vulnerable | Middle & East Blacksea |
| Bupleurum schistosum | Endemic | Vulnerable | Coruh Valley |
| Centaurea pecho | Endemic | Vulnerable | East Blacksea |
| Centaurea hedgei | Endemic | Vulnerable | Artvin-Erzurum |
| Linaria genistifolia subsp artivinensis | Endemic | Vulnerable | Coruh Valley |
| Iris taochia | Endemic | Vulnerable | East Blacksea |