photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Ankara pictures >> Modern Ankara >> Atakule > Ankara 2006 09 0292.jpg
previous | next
02-SEP-2006

Ankara 2006 09 0292.jpg

The Ata Kulesi, with a shopping mall at its foot. 125 Meters high. An elevator brings you to the top where you will be greeted by signs forbidding you to use a camera (movie or still), or binoculars. I wonder why (espionage, state security, in this time of Google Earth, gps and miniature cameras?). At any rate, if you go down one floor and spend some money on a drink you can take your pictures. I suppose the restaurant one floor up will provide the same service but did not try.

Nikon D2x
1/320s f/8.0 at 24.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share
Dick Osseman29-Nov-2013 17:36
I received from J.M.Criel, Antwerpen the message:

I visited Atakule twice, in 1994 and 2001, and each time I could freely take pictures from the upper floor.
Must be that since then, security authorities realised that pictures taken from there are as good as those taken from military satellites...
Cihangir 01-Jan-2007 17:48
Let me try to explain briefly. In very close vicinity of Atakule are places like the Presidential Residence (Cumhurbaþkanlýðý Köþkü) and Presidential Guard Garrison, a military complex, State Visitor House, Constitutional Courthouse, British, Canadian and Greek embassies to name a few. All things aside the Presidential Residence and the encircling military complex is the most well-defended place in Turkey; therefore it was built on high ground. Then Atakule was built and the tower opened to public use. All other important sites aside, the Presidential Guard was put under risk of espionage and long range laser markage. I'm sure there are more reasons to forbid the usage of cameras, but you are right in pointing out that technology has advanced alot since the implementation of this ban.