Urbanization`s usage of physical potential in Çanakkale and the determination of alternative regions

The province of Çanakkale is located at both sides of the Çanakkale Strait. Asian and European parts of the city are called Biga and Gallipoli peninsulas, respectively. Study area is bounded by Bayramdere's Delta from the north, İntepe from the south, watershed from the east and Çanakkale Strait from the west. The study covers the boundaries of the Çanakkale Municipality. Social and economic activities are affected by the natural environmental conditions. Therefore, physical properties were studied firstly. Secondly, population and settlement properties were given in historical perspective. The relations of urban development in Çanakkale with the morphological properties, the coastal use and land use capability classes were discussed. In order to guarantee the simultaneous and consistent developments of the social and natural environment of Çanakkale, determination of problems with reasons is important. Statistical, cartographic and historical documents and data were used in order to present the natural and the social conditions. These documents and data were supported by land study. Researchs were also benefited besides those data. Information about the population of Çanakkale before the Ottoman Empire is unsufScient. The first census hold in 1831 is not also sufficient, because it was done for the determination of the population of the male. The population of Çanakkale was 8.515 in the first census of Turkish Republic done in 1927. It sometimes increased, sometimes decreased until 1950 because of coming and going soldiers. It has started to increase since 1950 and it reached to 75.810 in 2000. While the history of settlement in Çanakkale province goes to 4000 BC, it is 1462 for Çanakkale city. The first nucleus of settlement in Çanakkale city was on the Sancay's Delta and the Çimenlik Castle founded near the Çanakkale Strait. Greeks, Armenians, Jewishs and Tatars were settled on 1600's, 1650's, the second half of 1700's and 1800's respectively. Trade increased with the settling of embassy of the foreignIV countries. However, the war from the beginning of the 20th century to the middle of the 20th century terminated the trade completely. Çanakkale is an old harbour city. Having strategical importance is the reason for having the military identity for Çanakkale Strait from the foundation time of the city. The university founded in 1992 and the logical use of the tourism facilities of city cause major changes in identity of the city. If the city is evaluated with respect to population working on different activity branch, the city can be classified as "civil servant city". Çanakkale city was founded on Sançay's Delta and it develops to the alluvial basement plainness and less inclined plainness. This development is in both horizontal and vertical directions. Being on the first degree earthquake region, the frailness of the city development area, high latitude of underground water level and liquidity potential, the existence of filling area in the coastal region form a dangerous for Çanakkale city. Çanakkale Municipality boundaries have approximately 20 km coast length (Çanakkale and Güzelyah coastal regions, except Kepez Municipality). This coastal area has important tourism potential. However there are some contraries to "Coast Law" on these coasts. Coasts of the city formed generally low latitude coasts. Low latitude coasts in Çanakkale are used intensively as in the case of other coastal regions in Turkey. The lack of definition in "Coast Law" causes a quick exploitation of these areas. The new development regions of Çanakkale city go to the productive agricultural territories. Çimenlik Castle environs the first settlement region was founded on the VHI class areas in agricultural point of view. However Karacaören Basin opened to the urban development has the first four productive classes in agricultural point of view. For this reason non-productive and suitable area according to base properties must be chosen for the development of the city.