The first time I saw Artvin I saw it looking up from the bus stop along its river. The city lay high above me, amidst green hills. I was on the way from Kars to Hopa, but decided to return sometime. I did, June 2006, and had read that the Lonely Planet Guide almost advised against visiting the city these days, since the surrounding hills were scarred by the preparatory work for a large dam. It was somewhat right. I did like the city well enough, and looking out from some spots the hills were green and rising high. From others, however, the landscape looked as if all vegetation had been scraped off, and at some spots, it was clear that the engineers had reshaped hills beyond recognition. The weather didn’t help: there was constantly a threat of rain, so I did not venture into the hills, but stayed within the towns limits. This is what I saw.

I will not supply much comments, since I think the pictures will explain themselves. I may return in five, six years, if the work is finished on schedule by then a sizeable lake should have formed behind the barrage. The barrage I saw on the way to the coast, I will add some pictures from that later. I will also rearrange pictures somewhat. Comments from people who could name a specific hill or building are welcome, please write in English though.