Çamlıdere Barajı

About Çamlıdere Barajı

Çamlıdere Barajı is a large reservoir on Bayındır Çayı in Çamlıdere district, north-west of Ankara, built between 1976 and 1985 to supply drinking water to the capital. According to Turkish Wikipedia it is a rock-fill dam rising 106 m above the riverbed; at its normal water level the lake holds about 1,226 cubic hectometres over roughly 32 square kilometres, and the dam supplies about 150 cubic hectometres of drinking and utility water a year. Çamlıdere Municipality promotes the district for nature tourism, including camping, nature walks, mountain biking and fishing, and notes that freshwater mullet (tatlı su kefali, known locally as gasma), karabalık and mirror carp can be caught in Çamlıdere Barajı. The lake is a scenic stop on the way to the district's other outdoor spots, such as Çamkoru Tabiat Parkı and Aluçdağı Tabiat Parkı. Because the reservoir is part of Ankara's drinking-water supply, check local rules on access, fishing and swimming before you go. No visitor facilities, opening hours or fees are published for the dam itself.