<P> The Atatürk Dam ( Turkish : Atatürk Barajı ) , originally the Karababa Dam , is a zoned rock - fill dam with a central core on the Euphrates River on the border of Adıyaman Province and Şanlıurfa Province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey . Built both to generate electricity and to irrigate the plains in the region , it was renamed in honour of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( 1881 -- 1938 ) , the founder of the Turkish Republic . The construction began in 1983 and was completed in 1990 . The dam and the hydroelectric power plant , which went into service after the upfilling of the reservoir was completed in 1992 , are operated by the State Hydraulic Works ( DSİ ) . The reservoir created behind the dam , called Lake Atatürk Dam ( Turkish : Atatürk Baraj Gölü ) , is the third largest in Turkey . </P>
<P> The Atatürk Dam ( Turkish : Atatürk Barajı ) , originally the Karababa Dam , is a zoned rock - fill dam with a central core on the Euphrates River on the border of Adıyaman Province and Şanlıurfa Province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey . Built both to generate electricity and to irrigate the plains in the region , it was renamed in honour of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ( 1881 -- 1938 ) , the founder of the Turkish Republic . The construction began in 1983 and was completed in 1990 . The dam and the hydroelectric power plant , which went into service after the upfilling of the reservoir was completed in 1992 , are operated by the State Hydraulic Works ( DSİ ) . The reservoir created behind the dam , called Lake Atatürk Dam ( Turkish : Atatürk Baraj Gölü ) , is the third largest in Turkey . </P>
why did turkey build a dam on the euphrates river
why did turkey build a dam on the euphrates river
generate electricity irrigate the plains in the region
generate electricity irrigate the plains in the region