Halfeti: The Partially Sunken Village on the Euphrates

There are places in Turkey that defy easy description. Halfeti is one of them. A small district town on the Euphrates River in Şanlıurfa province, it became one of the country's most haunting landscapes after the construction of the Birecik Dam in 2000 caused the river to rise and submerge much of the old settlement. What remains above the waterline — and what can be glimpsed below it — is unlike anything else in Turkey.

What Happened to Halfeti?

The Birecik Dam, completed in 2000 as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), raised the level of the Euphrates River significantly in this section. The villages of Eski (Old) Halfeti and Savaşan were among those partially or fully submerged. Residents were relocated to a new settlement — Yeni (New) Halfeti — on higher ground nearby.

The old village did not disappear entirely. The upper portions of some buildings remain above the waterline. The minaret of the old mosque at Savaşan rises directly from the water, visible from the boats that now pass over where the village streets once were. Depending on the water level — which changes seasonally — more or less of the old settlement is visible.

The Boat Tour

The primary way to experience Halfeti is by boat. Wooden boats depart from the small harbour in Yeni Halfeti throughout the day, taking visitors upstream along the flooded section of the Euphrates. The canyon walls of the Rumkale section are dramatic — sheer limestone cliffs rising from the water, with the ruins of Rumkale castle perched at the top.

The tour typically includes a stop at Rumkale — an ancient fortress built on a peninsula of rock that is now almost entirely surrounded by water since the dam was built. The castle has Byzantine and Crusader-period elements and commands an extraordinary view over the Euphrates canyon.

The boat tours last approximately two hours. They are available year-round but most atmospheric in summer, when the water level is at its most stable and the canyon scenery is at its clearest.

The Black Rose of Halfeti

Halfeti is famous in Turkey for a botanical curiosity: the siyah gül, the black rose. Roses of an extraordinarily deep, near-black red — a colour produced by the specific mineral composition of the Euphrates water and the local soil — grow in and around Halfeti and almost nowhere else. They bloom in spring and again in autumn.

The black rose has become a symbol of Halfeti and of the melancholy associated with the drowned village. It appears on local products, postcards and souvenirs. If you visit in May or October, you may see them flowering in the gardens of the new town.

Rumkale

Rumkale — the Castle of the Romans — is one of the most dramatically sited fortresses in southeastern Turkey. Built on a rocky promontory above the Euphrates, it was used variously by the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Armenians and the Seljuks. Since the dam raised the water level, it now appears to rise directly from the river, accessible only by boat.

The castle ruins include a church, cisterns, walls and towers in varying states of preservation. The view from the top — over the Euphrates canyon, the flooded valley and the surrounding limestone plateau — is exceptional.

Getting to Halfeti

Halfeti is approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Şanlıurfa and 120 kilometres from Gaziantep. The easiest access is by road from either city — the journey takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. There is no direct public transport; most visitors arrive by private vehicle or taxi, or as part of a day tour from Şanlıurfa or Gaziantep.

The most natural combination is to visit Halfeti as a day trip from Şanlıurfa, combining it with the city's extraordinary historic centre — the Balikligöl sacred pool, the old bazaar and the Göbeklitepe museum — on the same visit.

Why Choose AlaTourqo?
As a TÜRSAB #16222-certified tour operator, our Southeastern Anatolia tours include Halfeti alongside Göbeklitepe, Mardin and Nemrut — covering this extraordinary region in full with expert local guides.

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