Historical village resurfaces as Istanbul's dams experience critical water levels

In Istanbul's Başakşehir district, Şamlar Mahallesi, which was transformed from a village status to a neighborhood in 2013, partially became submerged under the waters of Sazlıdere Dam, construction of which began in 1996. Aware that a part of the old village site would be submerged, the villagers relocated the bodies from the cemetery to other cemeteries, while some graves were left behind.