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Allianoi - Turkey

Features January 1, 2011

A reservoir created by a new hydroelectric dam in western Turkey will soon permanently flood the ruins of the Roman-era bath complex of Allianoi.
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Workers dump sand over the Allianoi, the world's oldest known spa settlement, which is at risk of being submerged under water following the construction of a nearby dam, on September 24, 2010 in Pergamon, Izmir Province, Turkey. The possibility of the ancient city being destroyed by the Yortanli Dam remains a contentious issue in country. Allianoi sits inside an area that is expected to be submerged by the dam, the construction of which was recently completed. However, the dam is not yet fully operational due to the ongoing discussion regarding the preservation of Allianoi's ruins. AFP PHOTO/BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

A reservoir created by a new hydroelectric dam in western Turkey will soon permanently flood the ruins of the Roman-era bath complex of Allianoi. International proposals to relocate Allianoi's thermal spa or erect a wall protecting the entire site have been ignored by the government, which chose instead to cover the remains in sand. Scholars, however, worry this measure won't adequately protect the site's well-preserved second-century A.D. architecture.

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