Nice piece: “The UNESCO Site That Never Was [Hasankeyf]

The UNESCO Site That Never Was

The people of Hasankeyf, Turkey, have long enjoyed the nearby Tigris River, seen here in 2019. Recently, the creation of the Ilisu Dam has submerged their town. Burak Kara/Getty Images

In some of Zeynep Ahunbay’s earliest memories of southeastern Turkey, birds fly high above the town of Hasankeyf’s crumbling stone citadel. In one long, panoramic look, the conservation architect could take in an expanse of history, from the ancient stairs cut into limestone cliffs to the cluster of rickety cafes on stilts above the winding Tigris River.


Venice’s Black Death and the Dawn of Quarantine

The island of Lazzaretto Nuovo, shown here, was one of the isles where the city of Venice quarantined plague-stricken individuals. Archeoclub d’Italia Sede di Venezia

Just beyond the shores of Venice proper—a city comprised of dozens of islands—lie two uninhabited isles with a rich history. Today these landmasses are landscapes of grasses, trees, and worn stone buildings. But once they were among the most important gateways to this storied trading city.

 

Turkish Environment and Urbanization Ministry has started 24/7 live broadcast from Lake Salda, which is also known as Turkey’s Maldives, after construction attempts in the area caused uproar on social media.


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