609-year-old mosque is transported 2½ miles from ancient Turkish city due to be flooded

A 609-year-old mosque is being transported two-and-a-half miles away from an ancient Turkish city that is due to be flooded. 

The Er-Rizk Mosque is being moved from Hasankeyf, which is going to be flooded because of construction of the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf Culture Park.

The building, which weighs a whopping 1,700 tonnes, was transported on a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter along the Tigris River. 

The building, which weighs a whopping 1,700 tonnes, was transported on a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter along the Tigris River

The mosque’s minaret, which was built in 1409 under the order of Ayyubids’ ruler Ebu’l Mefahir Suleyman, was moved separately. 

All of the historic sites in Hasankeyf have been gradually transported to prepare for the construction of the new dam. 

Six structures have already been relocated – Artuklu Hamam (bathhouse), Sultan Süleyman Koç Mosque, Imam Abdullah Zawiyah, Zeynel Abidin Mausoleum and Eyyubi Mosque were among the previously relocated structures along with the middle entrance of a castle  

The mosque’s minaret, which was built in 1409 under the order of Ayyubids’ ruler Ebu’l Mefahir Suleyman, was moved separately

All of the historic sites in Hasankeyf have been gradually transported to prepare for the construction of the new dam

The mosque, which is the largest in Hasankeyf, was taken apart piece by piece and reassembled on the platform under supervision from the State Hydraulic Works and the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums, according to the Daily Sabah.  

It will be reconstructed upon its arrival in the cultural park. Its journey was estimated at seven hours.