On either side of the road were baby green trees passing by as we drove to our next adventure. The green of the trees was bright in the sun, deep in the shadows and speckled across the golden strands of blonde grass. Driving through the hills of Turkey we rounded a corner to see cliffs of a canyon that dove into a wide, crystal blue river. The Euphrates River.

We drove to Halfeti to explore its famous sunken old city that could be seen through its clear aqua waters. Halfeti sat perched on the side of the Euphrates with floating restaurants extending away from the land. We walked down the small town’s cobblestone road with the river running along one side while stores and aged buildings lined the other. The ancient river known to bring life and plenty to the lands around it gently stirred beneath us as we sat on a floating restaurant for lunch.

Towards the end of the road a mosque stood divided into two worlds as the bottom half was submerged in the water. Appearing as though it had sunken into the Euphrates the bottom of the mosque was now a playground for the fish and a visual spectacle for us above.

Bright boats lined up the dock and waited alongside restaurants to take visitors on a boat tour. We could not resist the opportunity and hopped on a boat to ride down the river. As the Turkish music played throughout the boat the cool river breeze was a welcomed refresher from the heat and the view wasn’t too bad either. The sun was lowering closer to the top of the surrounding cliffs and its golden beams lit portions of the rock walls. These massive slabs of grey with blots of green and streaks of yellow were not only beautiful but mysterious as they held caves. From the boat we could see holes on the sides of the cliffs that were once lived in.

The caves were not the only houses along the river. Further down we saw the ancient castle Rumkale resting on the top of the cliffs as a crown sits on king. Usually the castle can be visited but it was closed when we went. The boat tour took us around the old city of Halfeti and the Savaşan village. Due to dam construction these areas are no longer inhabited because they are partially sunk in the Euphrates River. It is said the water is clear enough for visitors to see the city below. While we could see some shapes beneath the water, we couldn’t see much. But, the ride down the river with scenic views and wind blown hair was worth the 15 Turkish lira.

Halfeti: Sunken City on the Euphrates River

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