Atayurt 4.45

Atayurt is a town in Mersin Province, TurkeyGeographyAtayurt is in the fertile alluvial plain of Silifke district which itself is a part of Mersin Province. The town is on the D 400 highway. The distance to Mersin is 72km and to Silifke is 10km. The coordinates are about. The population is 7154 as of 2012.HistoryThe rural population density of the vicinity has always been high and there were two villages next to each other. In 1989, the two villages have been merged to form Atayurt town. In 2005, Karadedeli and Sıtmasuyu villages have been merged. The name of the town refers to Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish republic.EconomyLike other parts of Silifke plain, the main economic activity of Atayurt is agriculture, especially green house and forced crop agriculture. Almost all fruits especially strawberries are produced. Since the sea side is only 5km to town center, the services to summer houses at the sea side also play a part of town economy.Concerns about blue tunnel projectThe Göksu River is very important to the economy of the town. The government is planning to use a part of the river to water Central Anatolia with the Blue Tunnel Project (Mavi Tünel) referring to a 17km tunnel with a capacity of 36 m3/s which will drain water to Bağbaşı in Konya Province. Atayurt residents are afraid that this project may cause a partial drought around Atayurt and decrease agricultural production.