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| Geography
and Climate of Turkey |
Geographically, Turkey
forms a natural bridge between the old world continents
of Asia, Africa and Europe. The Anatolian peninsula is
the westernmost point of Asia, divided from Europe by
the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. Thrace is the
western part of Turkey on the European continent.
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Examination of Turkey's topographic structure on
a physical map of the world shows clearly the
country's high elevation in comparison to its
neighbors, half of the land area being higher
than 1000 meters and two thirds higher than 800
meters. Mountain ranges extend in an east-west
direction parallel to the north and south coasts,
and these are a principal factor in determining
ecological conditions. This also means that
apart from the Asi river in Anatolia and the
Meriç in Thracian Turkey, all Turkey's rivers
have their sources within its borders and flow
into the sea, into neighboring countries or into
interior drainages. Turkey has seven river
basins. The principal rivers in the Black Sea
basin being the Sakarya, Kizilirmak Yesilirmak
and Çoruh. |
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There are also
several rivers with short courses but high water
flows in the Eastern Black Sea region, such as
the Ikizdere, Hursit Cayi and Firtina. The
highest waterfall in Turkey is on the Totum
river here. |
The Marmara basin
has fewer rivers, the longest being the Kocaçay
(whose upper and middle reaches are called the
Simav and Susurluk respective) which rises on
Mount Murat and flows into the Marmara sea from
the south.
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The Kücük
Menderes, Büyük Menderes and Gediz rivers in the
Aegean basin lend their names to the plains
which they water.
In the Mediterranean basin the principal rivers
are the Aksu, Köprüçay, Manavgat, Göksu, Ceyhan
and Seyhan. The Manavgat waterfall on the
Manavgat, Düden waterfall on the Düden and
Yerköprü waterfall on the Ermenek are among the
scenic attractions of the region. The Aladag
waterfall springing directly from the
mountainside are one of the sources of the
sources of the Seyhan river.
Two major rivers flow from Turkey into the
Caspian Sea basin, the Aras and Kura.
Water from Turkey flows into the Indian Ocean
through the Gulf of Basra via the famous
Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
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Turkey also has two inland drainage basins. The
first is the Central Anatolia basin which
contains the Tuz Gölü (salt lake) in Konya, and
the Yay, Seyfe, Kulu and several other satellite
lakes. The major river in this basin is the
Çarsamba which is out flow of Beysehir Lake and
contributes a large volume of water for
irrigation of the fertile Konya Plain, and is
linked by a canal to Tuz Gölü.
The Karasu, Incesu, Deliçay and Bendimahi rivers
flow into the interior drainage basin of Van.
There are waterfalls on the Bendimahi.
Another significant aspect of Turkey's
topography is its continental character,
preserved in the ancient name of Asia Minor.
This land mass is indeed a small scale continent
in many respects, above all with respect to the
climate of the interior. In some provinces the
temperature difference over 24 hours can be as
much as 20 degrees Centigrade. During the spring
months it is not unusual to find weather typical
of two or even three seasons at different
locations around Turkey in a single day. The
Mediterranean coast may be enjoying summer heat
while the temperate Black Sea region gets as
much as 2000 mm of precipitation in some places,
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there are parts
of Central Anatolia with an average
precipitation only one eighth of this total.
These wide
variations in temperature and precipitation
affect the country's flora and fauna, both in
quantity and in range of species. some parts of
Turkey consist of arid highlands whereas others
are thickly forested, and differences such as
these play a crucial role in the distribution of
wildlife around the country.
The fact that Anatolia is surrounded on there
sides by sea, its situation in the temperate
climatic zone, its geological and geomorphic
structure, and topography are all contributing
factors. The four seas around Turkey each
reflect a different ecological character.
Salinity is 18 per thousand in the Black Sea, 23
per thousand in the Marmara Sea, 32 per thousand
in the Aegean and 38 per thousand in the
Mediterranean. There is no other country in the
world with such a wide variation of salinity
levels along its shores, and the variations in
ecological structure of these seas affects the
life forms which inhabit them, from phyto
planktons and seaweeds to fish and marine
mammals such as dolphins.
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Geological and topographic structure are among
the main factors affecting diversity of species
in terrestrial ecosystems. While the mountain
ranges running parallel to the Black Sea and
Mediterranean create a barrier for rain clouds
moving inland, they cause abundant rainfall on
the mountain slopes facing the coast. On the
Aegean the mountain ranges run perpendicularly
towards the coast, divided by broad valleys
which allow the maritime climate to prevail
several hundred kilometers inland. Allusion
carried by the rivers has created fertile plains
in this Aegean region. Eastwards these mountain
ranges move closer together in Central Entail,
spreading apart once more in northeast and
southeast Turkey. The height of plains and
plateaus in Central Anatolia varies from 700 to
1100 meters, while in Eastern Anatolia this
rises to 1100-19 hundred meters, and drops to
700-500 in Southeast Anatolia. Despite the
existence of broad plains and plateaus, the
topography is largely hilly and mountainous
across Turkey as a whole.
Turkey has one
peak of over 5000 meters in altitude (Mt.Ararat),
three over 4000 meters and 129 peaks exceeding
3000 meters. Such an irregular topographic
structure has created a wide diversity of
ecological conditions and species. |
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Now let us take
a look at the geological history of the country,
which has also played a part in creating the
natural diversity which exists today.
Towards the end of the Quaternary Era the earth
underwent four ice ages. During the cold periods
when the glaciers expanded, animals seeking
warmer climes moved southward into the Iberian
peninsula, the Anatolian peninsula and Southeast
Asia. This migration enabled these species to
survive periods of glaciations. While some later
returned to their former habitats, others
remained in their new homelands, which explains
why Turkey's wildlife today includes species of
northern origin.
The distribution of flora and fauna species
along a north-south axis during these glacial
periods shifted to an east-west axis during
temperate intervals. This further increasing the
biological diversity.
The main migratory routes for birds between Asia,
Europe and Africa pass over Turkey, and this has
also been a factor in expanding the number of
species found here for part of the year.
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The
combination of all these factors has resulted in
a diversity of native plant animal species which
is one of the highest in the world. While in
terms of biogeographic region Turkey lies in the
Palaeartic zone, native species include those
typical of the Oriental and Ethiopian regions.
When we remember that biogeographic regions
cover vast areas, the significance of a species
range drawing on there different regions can be
better appreciated.
A comparable diversity can be seen in the human
history of Turkey, where since prehistoric times
many different peoples have settled, some to
build civilizations and others to pass on to
other continents. As a consequence this soil has
been fought over time and time again so
strategic in geopolitical terms. Over the past
ten thousand years more than twenty peoples have
left their mark on Turkey. Civilizations have
risen and fallen in successive waves some
falling victim to invasion by newcomers, some to
disease epidemics, and others to natural
disasters such as earthquakes.
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Fresh water sources have always been a key
determinant in human settlement, and where these
sources have been related to tectonic faults.
they have attracted settlers into areas close to
earthquakes centers.
Natural resources which have benefited mankind
in various ways for thousands of years have
gradually been used up. Forests and their
wildlife have suffered most from this process.
Not only have trees been felled for timber and
firewood, |
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but set alight
deliberately by ancient peoples as a means of
capturing enemy towns. Even using primitive
axes, people were able to destroy vast tracts of
forest. Deforestation has led to serious
erosion, which began around 2700 years ago. Yet
despite thousands of years of destruction by
logging, herds of goats, and fire, Turkey still
has large tracts of beautiful natural forest
land.
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here for flora
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