22. WORLD MINING CONGRESS ISTANBUL

22. WORLD MINING CONGRESS AND EXPO SOCIAL PROGRAMME

World Mining Congress Turkish National Committee is delighted to use the privilages of the host city İstanbul which is filled with numerous unique beauty. Committee aims joyful breaks along side of the well-prepared scientific programme.

September 11, 2011 - Welcome Cocktail, İstanbul Hilton Hotel:

The Committee would like to welcome all the participants at the Welcome Cocktail in the warm athmosphere of İstanbul Hilton Hotel which will be held on Sunday evening. This break will help participants to refresh themselves with a friendly welcoming.

September 13, 2011 - Boat Excursion on Bosphorus & Cocktail Prolonge:

This Boat Excursion will give participants an opportunity to be surrounded by unique scene of Bosphorus while enjoying the Cocktail Prolonge during the excursion.

September 14, 2011 - 22. World Mining Congress & EXPO Gala Dinner, Binbirdirek Cistern:

22. World Mining Congress & EXPO Gala Dinner will take place at one of the most impressive places; Binbirdirek Cistern on 14^th of September.

Binbirdirek Cistern exists under a small public square upper side of Justice Palace in Sultanahmet.

According to Byzantium resources, The Binbirdirek Cistern was constructed in the fourth century as the second biggest water reservoir in Istanbul after Bazalika Cistern (Yerebatan Palace).

The Binbirdirek Cistern is a massive reservoir that is surrounded with a thick wall all around. Inside the cistern there were 224 columns (16 rows x14 columns) with the dimensions of 64m, 56m, 40m. Today, you can see only 212 of them exist. The gap between the two columns is 3.75m and the columns are connected to each other with arches which carry the transversal vaults. The columns are formed by overlapping two different bodies of pillars and between these two parts, an overflowing wheel was placed. On the body of the columns, there are pyramid shaped headings -which were not ornamented- show that these pillars were constructed for this cistern specially, instead of being brought from somewhere else. The arches are connected to each other with wooden stretchers which were on the headings.

The name of the Turkish period of the cistern maybe would come from a word “binbir” which means abundance, or as a claim of somebody maybe the name would come from the word “bindir” because the body of the columns exists one on the top of the other. The lower parts of the columns have buried nearly 5m. into the ground. Actually, completely height of the supports are 12,50m. The vaults, at the corner of the left side of todays entrance of the cistern, were demolished and so 18 sections had filled that were here. It attracts attention that too many Greek letters have performed on the body of the columns. It’s known that these are the signs of the stoneworkers who performed the columns and worked by building the cistern.

There will be a shuttle service for the participants from Congress and EXPO Centers to the Binbirdirek Cistern for Gala Dinner.