Human and economic geography of Baskale district (Van)

The physical geography characteristics of the district have been studied in another doctoral thesis. Nevertheles, the lack of a comprehensive study on the human and economic characteristics of the district has been the starting point of this thesis. In the research, both systematic and regional approaches were utilized. The research was conducted through literature review, obtaining data from institutions, fieldwork, and survey-interviews. Within the scope of this research, it was desired to learn how the unique location of the district is reflected in its population and settlement characteristics. In addition, it is aimed to determine the economic activities and production methods in the district. In this study, not only the problems were identified, but also it was aimed to create solutions. In addition, it was thought that these solution proposals could be beneficial for similar rural areas It has been observed that the population of the district has been increasing since 1935. This increasing trend continued in the 1980s, when migration from rural to urban areas intensified, and reached its highest level in 2011. In many rural regions of Turkey, while the population declined during these periods, the population of the district increased. The district also differs from region and country in terms of other characteristics of the population. There are 66 villages, 66 hamlets, and 4 neighborhoods in the district. In general, villages in mountainous areas exhibit a multicenter settlement pattern, while villages in plateau areas display a monocenter settlement pattern. Settlements in the district generally exhibit the characteristics of a collective texture and a cluster form. The substantial presence of mountains and plateaus has resulted in the abundance of meadows and pasture areas across the district. Due to the abundance of meadows and pasture areas, livestock farming has become the most important economic activity in the district. The district holds great significance not only in Van but also throughout Turkey in terms of sheep and goat farming. The primary needs in the district have been determined as irrigation canal, irrigation reservoir, and the opening of a border gate with Iran. One of the major issues in the district is also the transportation problem to the villages. In the observations conducted in the research area, it has been observed that villages with easy and good transportation facilities show more development, while villages with poor transportation facilities do not develop and even face the risk of extinction. In the research area, there are historical and natural tourism assets. However, the lack of sufficient transportation facilities, deficiencies in tourism infrastructure, and the association of the district with terrorism in the past have hindered these attractions from receiving sufficient attention.