Urban geography of Aksaray

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between man and environment in the city of Aksaray, to evaluate the settlement in the process of development and to make some predictions about the future of Aksaray. Also, the historical, social, economic and cultural structure of the city has been the subject to the study. By the research, written, oral, and internet resources are brought together. For this purpose, in the first part, the general definitions about the thesis have been associated with and geomorphological features associated with the city's natural features, climate, hydrographic, soil and vegetation characteristics are explained. In the second part, in relation to human geography, the population, settlement, and issues related to urban functions of the City of Aksaray are examined. The city of Aksaray is founded on alluvial fans of the Scale Cone of Aksaray which was generated by the river Uluırmak (Melendiz). The factors such as Uluırmak's carrying plenty of water, fertile land for agriculture and the topography of the city led to the development and to be a suitable environment for people?s living. Aksaray, for its history dating back to BC 8 thousand, its cultural assets belonging to various civilizations prevailing to the present, its natural beauties, and for its being a commercial center preserves its importance so far. Aksaray, door to Cappadocia, offers its visitors a varied and interesting holiday facilities with its natural wealth besides its cultural wealth. In Central Anatolia, Aksaray which is one of the important centers of the Silk Road, takes part in the crossroads of the main access roads which extends between the east-west and north-south directions. With this condition, it has become an attractive center in the middle of Anatolia. In Aksaray, population growth rate in 2011 was 3.5 per thousand; on the other hand it was 2.9 per cent in 2012. The city's population in 1940 was 9144 and it was 236177 in 2012. In Turkey, the illiteracy rate of people over the age of 15 was %5.69 and the literacy rate was 94.31% in 2011. As for Aksaray, these ratios are respectively 7.3% and 92.7%. In 2011, the labor force participation rate of people over the age of 15 was approximately % 46,4, and the unemployment rate was 8%. 46.2% of employed persons' are employed in services and % 35,8 of them is employed in agricultural. The employment in the industry sector follows the industry with the rate of %18.