Batman River
Encyclopedia
The Batman River is a major tributary
of the Tigris
, joining it near the source of Tigris called Dicle River in southeast Turkey
. It originates in the Anti-Taurus Mountains
(at the Sason and Genç mountains) and flows approximately from north to south, passing near the city of Batman
and forming a natural border between the Batman Province
and Diyarbakır Province
. The historic Malabadi Bridge
(built in 1146–1147) crosses the river near the town of Silvan
. The region along the Batman River is known for its oil fields
. The Batman Dam
was built in 1999 in the upstream (38.160088°N 41.201574°E), together with the associated reservoir and hydroelectric power plant.
The river is widest at about 100 m right after exiting the dam, but then narrows to about 50 meters and forms numerous splits along its way to the Tigris. Its riverbed is irregular in many places that promotes flooding. A tributary of Batman, the Iluh River, originates in the Raman Mountain on the south of the Batman city and flows north-west through the city into the Batman River. Despite being a small river, absent on most maps, Iluh plays an important role for the province because its spring floods affect the provincial capital. The floods of Iluh and Batman rivers occur between March and May and sometimes in October–November. Major floods occurred in 1969 (April, 60 buildings damaged), 1972 (April and May, 210 buildings damaged), 1991 (November, 500 buildings flooded), 1995 (March, nearly 1000 buildings submerged and 450 damaged) and 2006 (October, 11 people died and 20 injured).
In Antiquity, the Batman River was known as Kalat. This name meant "bride" to the Syriac people who populated the area; it was thus translated into Greek as Nymphios (or Nymphaeus or Nimphius). Among Arabs it was known as Satidama meaning "the bloody" reflecting the battles fought near it. The river served as a natural border between the Byzantine and Persia and saw major battles in 583 and 591 AD. The main citadel on the river was Martyropolis
, modern Silvan
. The name Batman was used for the river from about 19th century, whereas in the 18th century and before it was mostly referred to as Nymphius, among other names. The origin of the name batman is unclear: it might be a shortening of the 1228 m tall Bati Raman mountain located nearby or refer to the unit of weight used in the Ottoman Empire
since antiquity.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
, joining it near the source of Tigris called Dicle River in southeast Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It originates in the Anti-Taurus Mountains
Anti-Taurus Mountains
Anti-Taurus is a mountain range in southern and eastern Turkey, curving northeast from the Taurus Mountains. The tallest mountain in the range is Mount Erciyes,...
(at the Sason and Genç mountains) and flows approximately from north to south, passing near the city of Batman
Batman, Turkey
Batman is a city in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and the capital of Batman Province. It lies on a plateau, 540 meters above sea level, near the confluence of the Batman River and the Tigris. The Batı Raman oil field, which is the largest oil field in Turkey, is located just outside...
and forming a natural border between the Batman Province
Batman Province
Batman Province is a Turkish province southeast of Anatolia. The province's population exceeded 500,000 in 2010.The province is important because of its reserves and production of oil which was started in the 1940s. There is a 494-km long oil pipeline from Batman to the Turkish port of İskenderun....
and Diyarbakır Province
Diyarbakir Province
Diyarbakır Province is a province in eastern Turkey. The province covers an area of 15,355 km² and the population is 1,528,958. The provincial capital is Diyarbakir...
. The historic Malabadi Bridge
Malabadi Bridge
The Malabadi Bridge is an arch bridge spanning the Batman River near the town of Silvan in southeastern Turkey. It was built between 1146 and 1147 during the Artuk period by Timurtas of Mardin, son of Ilgazi, grandson of Artuk. It was restored in the late twelfth century, and recently in the...
(built in 1146–1147) crosses the river near the town of Silvan
Silvan, Turkey
Silvan is a district of the Diyarbakır Province of Turkey. Its population is 41,451 Notable attraction is Malabadi Bridge.-History:Silvan has been identified by several scholars as one of two possible locations of Tigranakert, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, which was built by...
. The region along the Batman River is known for its oil fields
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
. The Batman Dam
Batman Dam
Batman Dam is one of the 21 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project of Turkey, built on the Batman River in southeastern of Turkey. There is a hydroelectric power plant, established in 1998, at the dam, with a power output of 198 MW.-References:...
was built in 1999 in the upstream (38.160088°N 41.201574°E), together with the associated reservoir and hydroelectric power plant.
The river is widest at about 100 m right after exiting the dam, but then narrows to about 50 meters and forms numerous splits along its way to the Tigris. Its riverbed is irregular in many places that promotes flooding. A tributary of Batman, the Iluh River, originates in the Raman Mountain on the south of the Batman city and flows north-west through the city into the Batman River. Despite being a small river, absent on most maps, Iluh plays an important role for the province because its spring floods affect the provincial capital. The floods of Iluh and Batman rivers occur between March and May and sometimes in October–November. Major floods occurred in 1969 (April, 60 buildings damaged), 1972 (April and May, 210 buildings damaged), 1991 (November, 500 buildings flooded), 1995 (March, nearly 1000 buildings submerged and 450 damaged) and 2006 (October, 11 people died and 20 injured).
In Antiquity, the Batman River was known as Kalat. This name meant "bride" to the Syriac people who populated the area; it was thus translated into Greek as Nymphios (or Nymphaeus or Nimphius). Among Arabs it was known as Satidama meaning "the bloody" reflecting the battles fought near it. The river served as a natural border between the Byzantine and Persia and saw major battles in 583 and 591 AD. The main citadel on the river was Martyropolis
Martyropolis
Martyropolis was the former name of a city in Turkey, now known in Turkish as Silvan, in Aramaic as Meiafarakin .It is a Catholic titular see....
, modern Silvan
Silvan, Turkey
Silvan is a district of the Diyarbakır Province of Turkey. Its population is 41,451 Notable attraction is Malabadi Bridge.-History:Silvan has been identified by several scholars as one of two possible locations of Tigranakert, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, which was built by...
. The name Batman was used for the river from about 19th century, whereas in the 18th century and before it was mostly referred to as Nymphius, among other names. The origin of the name batman is unclear: it might be a shortening of the 1228 m tall Bati Raman mountain located nearby or refer to the unit of weight used in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
since antiquity.