Relationships between natural environment and human in Altintaş (Kütahya) river watershed

Altintaş Creek Watershed and most of its environs that are study area are located at the Aegean Region?s inner west Anatolia's sub-region. Also this site is in the border of the Afyonkarahisar, Kutahya, Usak and Eskisehir provinces. Kocadag Mount (1.552 m) and Kulaksiz Mount (1.588 m) located at the north of the study area. The study area is surrounded with Kartal Mount (1.442 m) from the southern part, Tava Mount from the western part and Kalankaya Mount (1.361 m). Altintas River Watershed separated from the Banaz Creek Watershed at the south, Porsuk Creek Watershed at the north, from Seydiler Creek Watershed at the east and Akarcay Creek Closed Watershed at the south-eastern. In the study area; the Paleozoic era aged sites are at the south (Afyon-Ihsaniye environs), Mesozoic era aged sites at the western part of the Kutahya and on the Kutahya-Afyon highway environs are lying at the surface. Common geological units of the study area are consisted of Pliocene and Miocene aged latchstring and volcanic rocks. Common rock types are limestone and volcanic rock units. Alluvial material covers plains. There is no important altitude difference between Mountain masses that is located and surrounded at the study area. The most important height is located at the Murat Mount (2309). Altıntaş and Aslanapa Plains are watered by Altintas River and these plains are very important agriculture sites. The climate of the Altintas River Watershed and its environs are different from the Mediterranean climate and very close to continental climate. Hence, it is sunny, no precipitation and warm at the summer season. Therefore drought is in effect in this region. Even so, the temperature decreases and pressure increases from October. Mean annual temperature is 10.6 ºC and mean annual precipitation is 430 mm. The network of creeks is consisted of Altintas River and its branches. These creeks waters the Altintas and Aslanapa Plains. The study area is a temporary or permanent site for the communities (settlements). In this area, the oldest and the most important civilization were established by Phrygians. For this reason, this region was called ?Phrygia? in this period. The kingdoms of Kimmer, Persians, Ionians, Romans and Byzantine were lived here. Tumuli and walled tombs that remain from these ancient times were found in the Altintas town/province. Kütahya has been a province centre since the 9th October 1923; Altıntaş has been a county since 1947. This county is consisted of 5 quarters, 2 communities and 33 villages. Altintaş's population is 25.262 inhabitants. 6.418 of them are living in the county centre (town), 2287 of them are living in the Çayırbaşı community, 2.449 of them are living in the Zafertepeçalköy community and 14.108 of them are living in the villages. Head Commandant Major Battle that is one of the main battles of Turkish Liberation (Independence) War had occurred 30th August 1922 in Dumlupınar. There are memorials, monuments and martyr graveyards from this battle and victory. The most important economic activities are agriculture and animal breeding, but the other activities are not developed in this area. The reasons of this are physical geographic conditions and also inadequate business circumstances.