Pyramus River
Encyclopedia
Ceyhan River
Ceyhan River (or historically Pyramos or Pyramus or the Leucosyrus in Anatolia
in south of Turkey or Asia Minor
in the Kahramanmaraş
province of Turkey . According to classical references its source is at Cataonia
near the town of Arabissus. Its main tributaries are called Harman, Göksun, Mağara Gözü, Fırnız, Tekir, Körsulu, Aksu (which joins Ceyhan at on the outskirts of Kahramanmaraş), Çakur, Susas, Çeperce. Its total length is 509 km or 316 miles.
In classical times for a time it passed under ground, but then came forward again as a navigable river, and forced its way through a glen of Mount Taurus, which in some parts was so narrow that Strabo claims a god can leap across it. Its course, which to this point had been south, then turned to the southwest, and reached the sea. The river was deep and rapid ; its average breadth was 1 stadium
.
At present, because of the narrow deep valleys that used exist, Ceyhan River has been dammed for hydroelectric generation, for flood control and for providing irrigation to fertile Cukurova region. The main hyroelectric generating dams are at Menzelet, Aslantaş, Sır and Berke. Of the deep valleys, only the one called Kisikli Canyon exists in its natural form at the south of the location the Menzelet Dam.
The quantity of water flow on the Ceyhan River changes greatly season by season. During August and September months the river is at its lowest flow. During November and December the autumn rains temporarily raise the water flow rate (from 50 cubic meters per second to 380 cubic meters per second). In January flow rate decreases until mid-February. As the snows melt in Taurus Mountains during Spring and early Summer months, the flow increases and, when it was not controlled by dams, there used be floods. During the last quarter of the 20th century, during the floods, the two rivers of the Cukurova plain, Ceyhan River and Seyhan River
joined together at least 6 times.
In classical times Ceyhan River reached the Mediterranean Sea at Mallus
. Currently this location is inland a few miles from the Mediterranean coast on an elevation in the Karataş Peninsula, Adana
Province, Turkey, a few miles from the town of Karataş
. In classical times it carried with it such a quantity of mud, that, according to an ancient oracle, its deposits would one day reach the island of Cyprus
, and thus unite it with the mainland. The delta formed at the mouth of Ceyhan River is a refuge for wetlands birds and some years their numbers reach few millions. The sand bank in front is famed for nesting ground for sea turtles.
Ceyhan River (or historically Pyramos or Pyramus or the Leucosyrus in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
in south of Turkey or Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
Course of the river
The Ceyhan River (Pyramus) has its source (known as Söğütlü Dere) at a location called Pınarbaşı 3 km on the Nurhak Mountains of the Eastern Taurus range, southeast of the town of ElbistanElbistan
Elbistan is a district in Kahramanmaraş Province in southern Turkey. Elbistan city center's population is 85,642 ....
in the Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaras
-Industry:Kahramanmaraş's industry is mainly based on textile and ice cream. Kahramanmaraş is one of the biggest textile industry cities of Turkey. Companies like Kipaş, İskur, Arsan and Bozkurt are one of the richest companies in the city...
province of Turkey . According to classical references its source is at Cataonia
Cataonia
Cataonia was one of the divisions of ancient Cappadocia.It is described by Strabo, who had visited it, as a level plain surrounded by mountains: on the south by the Amanus, and on the west by the Antitaurus, which branches off from the Cilician Taurus and contains deep narrow valleys Cataonia was...
near the town of Arabissus. Its main tributaries are called Harman, Göksun, Mağara Gözü, Fırnız, Tekir, Körsulu, Aksu (which joins Ceyhan at on the outskirts of Kahramanmaraş), Çakur, Susas, Çeperce. Its total length is 509 km or 316 miles.
In classical times for a time it passed under ground, but then came forward again as a navigable river, and forced its way through a glen of Mount Taurus, which in some parts was so narrow that Strabo claims a god can leap across it. Its course, which to this point had been south, then turned to the southwest, and reached the sea. The river was deep and rapid ; its average breadth was 1 stadium
Stadia
Stadium or stadion has the plural stadia in both Latin and Greek. The anglicized term is stade in the singular.Stadium may refer to:* Stadium, a building type...
.
At present, because of the narrow deep valleys that used exist, Ceyhan River has been dammed for hydroelectric generation, for flood control and for providing irrigation to fertile Cukurova region. The main hyroelectric generating dams are at Menzelet, Aslantaş, Sır and Berke. Of the deep valleys, only the one called Kisikli Canyon exists in its natural form at the south of the location the Menzelet Dam.
The quantity of water flow on the Ceyhan River changes greatly season by season. During August and September months the river is at its lowest flow. During November and December the autumn rains temporarily raise the water flow rate (from 50 cubic meters per second to 380 cubic meters per second). In January flow rate decreases until mid-February. As the snows melt in Taurus Mountains during Spring and early Summer months, the flow increases and, when it was not controlled by dams, there used be floods. During the last quarter of the 20th century, during the floods, the two rivers of the Cukurova plain, Ceyhan River and Seyhan River
Seyhan River
The Seyhan River is the longest river in Turkey that is flowing into Mediterranean Sea. The river is 560 km and flows southwest from its headwaters in the Tahtalı-Mountains in Anti-Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea via a broad delta...
joined together at least 6 times.
In classical times Ceyhan River reached the Mediterranean Sea at Mallus
Mallus
Mallus or Mallos was an ancient city of Cilicia Campestris lying near the mouth of the Pyramus river, in Anatolia. In ancient times, the city was situated at the mouth of the Pyramus , on a hill opposite Magarsus which served as its port. The district was called from it, Mallotis...
. Currently this location is inland a few miles from the Mediterranean coast on an elevation in the Karataş Peninsula, Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
Province, Turkey, a few miles from the town of Karataş
Karatas
Karataş is a small city and a district in Adana Province, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, 47 km from the city of Adana, between the rivers of Seyhan and Ceyhan, the Pyramos of Antiquity...
. In classical times it carried with it such a quantity of mud, that, according to an ancient oracle, its deposits would one day reach the island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, and thus unite it with the mainland. The delta formed at the mouth of Ceyhan River is a refuge for wetlands birds and some years their numbers reach few millions. The sand bank in front is famed for nesting ground for sea turtles.