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Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Viewers of the Turkish TV series, titled “Karagül” (Black Rose), see characters coming in and out of their old stone houses, looking pensively into the bright blue waters of the lake. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Viewers of one of Turkey’s most popular soap operas are mesmerized not by the beauty of the protagonists or the intricate plot but by Halfeti, the breathtakingly beautiful town in which it is set. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Like an underwater museum, the flooded half of Halfeti can be clearly seen under the crystal waters of the lake, roofs of sunken houses and walls surrounding a garden, hinting at its rural past and only adding to the town’s beauty. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Until the area was flooded in 1999, the people lived from fishing in the Euphrates and farming on the riverbank, especially growing peanuts and the area’s famous black roses (hence the title of the soap). Then the waters came and “new” Halfeti was built. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Halfeti now attracts nearly two hundred thousand visitors a year from around the world, most of them arriving in spring and autumn - but avoiding the searing heat of the summer. Trekking and water-sports are offered in the town where there is also a quad bike track. Restaurants serve traditional meat and fish dishes. However, accommodation is limited since new buildings are not welcomed by the local community. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
The town is also a member of the “slow city” movement, “Cittaslow,” that advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down the pace of life. AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
AA Photo
Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty
Located along the banks of the river Euphrates in the southeastern Turkish district of Şanlıurfa, Halfeti was partially flooded in 1999 to create the Birecik dam. AA Photo
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