Canal Construction in Istanbul, Italy by Alba Cambeiro / SOPA Images
The Erdoğan government will begin work this summer to open a new waterway north of Istanbul. This controversial mega-project will have irreversible environmental consequences. The construction of a luxury residential area along the canal will also cause the displacement of thousands of people currently living in the area.
The artificial waterway will be 45 km long and will pass through forests, marshes and villages north of Istanbul. The project also includes the construction of a residential area along the canal under the name Yenişehir, "new city" in Turkish. The project is strongly criticized by economists, who say it will place an unacceptable burden on the country's ailing economy. The scientific community also warns of the catastrophic ecological consequences of the construction of the canal, which will turn the city of Istanbul into an island.
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