The Geography of Baskil district (Elazığ)

II SUMMARY PhD Thesis THE GEOGRAPHY OF BASKİL DISTRICT (ELAZI?) Ayşe ÇA?LIYAN The University of Fırat The Institute of Social Science The Deparment of Geography ELAZI?-2002, Page: XTV+265 Baskil district is situated in the upper Ephratus area of The Eastern Anatolia. Baskil which is a district of Elazığ Provence gained this status in 1926. It has an area of 1 195 km2, 62 villages and many quarters. Baskil district has a landscape composed of mountains and platos. The district centre is situated in a plate. In our research area, which has a plantation comprising antropogen steps and distorted tree formations, continental and changed mediterranean climate are dominant. The first settlement habitation goes back to Calcolitic Age but the main habitation increased after Selçuk Era. Since some of the settlements remained under the Karakaya Dam Lake, they were moved into new location consequently there happened a decrease in the population. The population of the centre increased while the country lose population. According to the 2000 census, the total population is 2681 1. The main agricultural production is apricot in the district whose economy is dependent mainly on the agriculture. The apricot is the essential source of income for the people in Baskil district which is the naturel extension of Malatya Basin. Among the other agricultural products are truck-garden products and grain. Baskil, the existence of which is the dependent entirely on the railway, is an undeveloped area since it is in the proximity and between two realitively big cities: Malatya and Elazığ. KEY WORDS: Baskil, District, Settlement, Economy, Karakaya Dam Lake, Quarter, Agriculture, Apricot.