Historic Altinli Bridge disappears beneath reservoir waters

A 1,500-year-old Roman-era bridge known as the Altinli Bridge has disappeared beneath the rising waters of the Cetintepe Dam in southeastern Türkiye. The dam, one of the country’s ten largest in terms of fill capacity, began retaining water in August 2025 and was officially inaugurated on April 2.

Due to heavy winter rainfall, water levels in the reservoir have risen faster than expected, submerging the historic structure. Located in the Gölbasi district of Adiyaman, the 83-meter-long bridge, featuring four arches, had been restored in 2019 by the General Directorate of Highways to preserve it for future generations. Despite these efforts, it is now no longer visible above the waterline.