The Geography of Akçadağ district (Malatya)

n SUMMARY PhD Thesis Handan ARSLAN The University of Fırat The Institute of Social Science The Department of Geography The town, Akçadağ is in the upper Fırat district of the East of Turkey. Akçadağ which is a town of the City Malatya has been a settled area for ages. It was called as "Arca", "Arka", "Argos" and "Arega" according to the history books. The center of Akçadağ town was called Levent in 1867. The town was moved to Akçadağ (Arga) in the same year. Akçadağ which had a board of municipality in 1910 was the administration center of 72 villages. It has an area of 1 193 km2 and it has also a lot of quarters. It is genarally a plato area named Akçadağ plato and Malatya territory. They are separated with north-east and south-west fault line. Akçadağ is located between these two plotoes and paralled to the fault line. Its natural flora has genarally antropogen step and distorted tree formations. We can say that it has not only continental climate but also a little bit Meditarinean weather in our invastigation area. The main river is Tohma, and its most important branch is the Sultansuyu stream. Akçadag's economy mostly depends on agriculture and apricot can be grown there most. The population of the town was 42.527 according to the census held in 1997. Today the population is exteremly going down because it is very near city Malatya. Akçadağ has a State Production Farm called Sultansuyu and is directed by TİGEM (General Directory of Agricultural Administration). Erhaç airport which is in the city Malatya is also in our investigation area. 1CF.Y WfYRTJS? Akrartaa Anrir.nt Sııltarısııvıı State Prorhirtfinn Farm Tnrtma River