Boys fish on the Tigris river as abandoned old city of Hasankeyf is seen in background on December 17, 2019. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 3, 2020, shows people parked along a road which ends in the Il?su Dam close to the newly constructed Hasankeyf town, after the ancient town and its archaeological sites were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on February 21, 2020, shows an aerial view of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
TOPSHOT – People visit the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project on February 24, 2020. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on February 23, 2020, shows an aerial view of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
Young Kurdish boys picnic on a building of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project, on February 24, 2020. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
Mehmet Altundag, 60, leaves the old town of Hasankeyf after obtaining special permission to see his house one last time on February 24, 2020. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on February 24, 2020, shows garbage in front of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on February 24, 2020, shows an aerial view of the ancient city of Hasankeyf which will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the small village on the banks of the Tigris River will soon be under water as part of a controversial dam project. Authorities have started to move some historic monuments, and have already destroyed others. Old city has been abandoned, government cut electricity and water, the historic market, has been destroyed and disappear during last days. Residents are being moved from the ancient town to a ‘New Hasankeyf’ nearby, while historic artefacts have also been transported out of the area. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 3, 2020, shows the Il?su Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town and the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 3, 2020, shows the Ilosu Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town and the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Ilosu Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 3, 2020, shows the Il?su Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town and the remains of the ancient town (foreground) of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 5, 2020, shows cows standing in the water of the Ilosu Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town from the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Ilõsu Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 3, 2020, shows the Il?su Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town (unseen) and the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 6, 2020, shows the Il?su Dam separating the newly government built Hasankeyf town (foreground) and the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
TOPSHOT – This picture taken on August 4, 2020, shows a boy sits on a school bench after his village and school were flooded by the Ilosu Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town from the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Ilõsu Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 6, 2020, shows the Il?su Dam separating the newly government built Hasankeyf town and the remains of the ancient town of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) 
This picture taken on August 2, 2020, shows a woman looking after her child playing in the Il?su Dam separating the newly constructed Hasankeyf town and the remains of the ancient town (background) of the same name and its archaeological sites which were flooded as part of the Il?su Dam project located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. – Despite years of protests by residents and activists, the town on the banks of the Tigris River disappeared under water as part of a controversial dam project. To encourage tourism, swimming is allowed and people can enjoy a boat tours. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP) (Photo by BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images) The ancient town of Hasankeyf is seen from above, with visible earthworks and road construction to accommodate relocation efforts, on October 1, 2019. (Burak Kara / Getty)
Last year, I featured photos of the efforts made to move parts of the ancient Turkish town of Hasankeyf to a new location, as a massive dam project was about to cause the Tigris River to rise and flood the area. A year later, the reservoir behind Ilisu Dam has largely filled up, inundating the historic town and surrounding archaeological sites, despite years of protests by residents and activists. Most of Hasankeyf’s residents were relocated to New Hasankeyf, a village made up of government-built housing on the opposite shore, as their old homes were slowly submerged. Now, to encourage tourism, authorities are allowing swimming in the reservoir, and boat tours are being offered. Collected here are images from the past year, as Hasankeyf was slowly engulfed by the rising Tigris River.
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