Çubuk-1 Barajı Rekreasyon Alanı

About Çubuk-1 Barajı Rekreasyon Alanı

Çubuk-1 Barajı Rekreasyon Alanı is a large lakeside park around the first dam of the Republican era, about 12 km from central Ankara in Altındağ district, reopened to the public by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality on 29 October 2020. Preliminary studies for the dam began in 1926 and its foundations were laid in 1930; it was completed in April 1936 and opened by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on 3 November 1936. Built on Çubuk Çayı for drinking water and flood control, it is a 25 m high concrete gravity dam. For decades its lake, lawns and social facilities made it a favourite outing for Ankara residents. Pollution and silting ended water intake in 1994, the old lakeside casino and other buildings were demolished in 2016, and after the municipality's clean-up the reservoir began holding water again in late 2021, after a 27-year break. The park covers about 413,000 square metres. The municipal company ANFA lists picnic areas for barbecue and non-barbecue use with 254 picnic tables and 167 barbecue units, a 736 m nature walk, a 520 m cycle path, a sports pitch, children's playgrounds, ornamental pools, an events area, two cafes (Baraj Market Kafe and Teras Kafe) and parking for 619 cars. The house Atatürk used on his visits to the dam has been restored and opened to visitors, the old greenhouse has been renovated with its original heating system, and a 4.3 m Atatürk statue stands on the highest point of the site. The municipality reported about 50,000 visitors on a single Sunday in May 2022, so expect crowds on warm weekends.