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Berdan River (Cydnos) and Waterfall
The Berdan River has played an important role in carrying alluvium soil that formed the Çokurova Plain. The silt originates from the Central Taurus Mountains chain (Bolgan Mountains), its southeastern slopes draining into the rivers tributary streams (Picture). The Seyhan and Ceyhan Rivers, which occupy opposite sides of the Çukurova Plain, drain into the Mediterranean Sea. The most important of the tributary streams are the Can, Pamuklu and Kusun Streams; their total length combined is 142 km. The way the Berdan River (Ancient Cydnos) meanders through the Tarsus Plain is one of the main reasons that the city was established in its present location.
The Berdan River, which means ‘cold water river, has a beautiful natural feature just four kilometers from the city center. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527 – 565 A.D) changed the course of the riverbed and as a result the river flowed over and through what was then earlier a Roman cemetery. The course of the river was changed due to the frequent flooding of its banks, the result for today is a 15 meter high waterfall which has a seasonal increased water flow as a result of the annual spring thaw of mountain snow. Due to the ramped or stepped nature of the old cemetery which consisted of many small rooms (dromos), and the composition of the rock which makes up the waterfall, many of the old graves have eroded away.
Today the waterfall is valued highly by the local population, especially during the hot summer months. During the spring and autumn months the increased water flow of the river (138 m³/ second), generates a pleasant little lake to the west of the falls and results in stunning view of the falls. Because of its characteristics the Arabs named the river ‘El-Baradan. The name comes to us today in the form of Berdan. The river is supposed to bring health, however some people have developed problems because of the river. An example of this is Alexander the Great who is said to have bathed here, developed pneumonia and shortly afterwards died in Syria. The Caliph Memun did the similar thing and met the same fate, he was a result buried in Tarsus.
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