epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 1

Mosque on the move: Historic Islamic site in Turkey wheeled away ahead of dam flooding


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A historical mosque in southeastern Turkey has been wheeled away in

The Er Rizk Mosque in Hasankeyf in Batman province, is one of several buildings in the village making way for the Ilisu dam project on the Tigris that will submerge the village when it opens.

The mosque was moved to a cultural park about four kilometers away from its original spot.

  • Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
    Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
  • Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
    Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
  • Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
    Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
  • A woman reacts as Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
    A woman reacts as Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
  • Ancient town of Hasankeyf is seen by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam n Hasankeyf, Turkey. Getty
    Ancient town of Hasankeyf is seen by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam n Hasankeyf, Turkey. Getty

"We had completed our tests on roads by yesterday, and there was no problem. Today, we will carry the monument through a 4,670-meter-long way to its new place at archeo-park," said Ali Naci Kosali, a officer for the moving project.

He said the mosque's minaret was dismantled and kept in storage. It will be restored once the mosque is in place.

Hasankeyf was declared a conservation area in 1981. There are nearly 6,000 caves around the town that contain the remnants of Christian and Muslim worship, as well as a Byzantine fortress.