Urban geography of Gümüşhane

Ill ABSTRACT Ph. D. THESIS URBAN GEOGRAPHY OF GÜMÜŞHANE Serkan DO?ANAY Supervisor: Asc. Prof. Hakkı YAZICI 2001-PAGE: 162 Jury: 1. Doç.Dr. Hakkı YAZICI 2. Prof.Dr. Hayati DO?ANAY 3. Doç.Dr. Sedat AVCI 4. Doç.Dr. Halil KOCA 5. Doç.Dr. Saliha KODAY Gümüşhane, located in a narrow valley which Harşit stream passes through and reaches Black Sea on a Southeast-Northwest direction and on the Northern slopes of the above-mentioned valley, is within the Eastern Black Sea Part of Black Sea Region. In the city, an intersection between mild Black Sea climate and continental Eastern Anatolian climate, yearly average temperature is about 9.7 °C, and yearly average rain is about 424.2 mm. Although there is no certain knowledge about when Gümüşhane was founded, it is known that the city was founded on its present location after changing place twice. Gümüşhane, whose foundation and development has depended completely on silver mine, was first founded on a neighbourhood known as Canca at present. The city, which was later located at Süleymaniye neighbourhood (Old Gümüşhane), moved to Harşit stream valley because silver mines were no longer profitable. The fact that Harşit stream valley is an important way for transportation is an important factor for the change in the place of the city as well as the loss of productivity in silver mines. The population of Gümüşhane in 1997 was about 22775. The decrease in the population compared to 1990 (when the population was 26014) is related to the migration to industrial greater cities because of the lack of means of employment in Gümüşhane. Like in every period, Gümüşhane is a type of urban settlement in which economical functions other than agriculture have developed. Therefore 90.5 % of the economically active population is employed in areas other than agriculture (80.3 % in services, 10.2 % in industry). Due to topographical reasons, Gümüşhane mostly exerts a linear enlargement on Harşit stream valley. Because the location of the city does not let physical developmentIV and enlargement, and because the means of employment are scarce, the migration from the city is continually increasing. These problems, the gravity of which is heavily felt at present, both prevents increase in the population of the city and makes it more difficult for the city to develop its functions.