Günyurdu Reservoir

Günyurdu Baraj Göleti, also known as Günyurdu (Bakraz) Dam, is an artificial reservoir located within the boundaries of Günyurdu village in the Pazaryeri district of Bilecik province. The structure, built on the Bakraş (or Bakraz) Creek, was primarily constructed for agricultural irrigation purposes.^【1】

^{Günyurdu Göleti} (T.C. BİLECİK VALİLİĞİ)

Construction of the dam began in 1993 and was completed and put into operation in 2001. Structurally, it is a rock-fill embankment dam with the following key technical parameters:

• Embankment Volume: 546,000 m³
• Height from Riverbed: 46.00 metres
• Reservoir Capacity at Normal Water Level: 7.40 hm³
• Surface Area at Normal Water Level: 0.43 km²
• Irrigation Capacity: The reservoir provides irrigation services to a total of 805 hectares of agricultural land.^【2】

Günyurdu Göleti is located at coordinates 40° 02'09.85" north latitude and 29° 50'34.07" east longitude, at an elevation of 835 metres above sea level. Access to the area is via road; traveling 4.2 kilometres from Pazaryeri district towards Bursa or Küçükelmalı, then turning north at the Günyurdu-Büyükelmalı junction and continuing for 2.7 kilometres leads to the reservoir.^【3】

^{Günyurdu Göleti} (KÜLTÜR PORTALI)

Following the commencement of water retention, physical changes occurred in the region’s topography and settlement patterns. A portion of the former settlement of Old Günyurdu Village, located approximately 3.5 kilometres around the reservoir, was submerged by the dam waters.^【4】 Biologically, the reservoir and its surroundings serve as a natural habitat and breeding ground for the white stork and its chicks.^【5】

In addition to its agricultural irrigation function, Günyurdu Göleti is now classified as one of Bilecik province’s nature tourism destinations. The area is utilized as a recreational zone and is also suitable for angling, nature walking, and landscape observation.^【6】