The general and applied geomorphology of Karliova basin and its environment

Karlıova basin takes place in the eastern part of the Eastern Taurus Mountains. This area corresponds to the intersection area of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF), East Anatolian Fault (EAF) and Varto Fault. This structure is called as Karlıova triple junctions (triple-junction). Formation and development of the basin has taken place under the control of these faults. The basin has an extent in NE-SW direction due to the extension of Eastern Fault. Located in a very important tectonic area, Karlıova Basin is surrounded by Karagöl, Bingöl and Şeytan Mountains in the north, Şerafettin mountains in the South and Turna Mountains in the West. Considered together with its close environment, Karlıova Basin corresponds, in morphological sense, to a basin in full sense. The elevation difference between the surrounding mountainous area of the north and basin floor is greater than 500 m. The greater elevation difference is due to the descent and rise caused by faults traversing the basin. Karlıova Basin, is a the fault wedge basin opened between the North Anatolian and East Anatolian Fault. The formation of the basin took place at the beginning of the Quaternary after the merger of NAF and EAF. Its opening to the external drainage is through Göynük river from southwest in the same period. Karlıova Basin is located in tectonically key point. This field in which two major tectonic phases are distinguished throughout geologic history, the first circuit period, the Palaeotectonic period, covers the period up to Middle-Upper Miocene. In this period a thrust belt occurred in the north of the study area. Neotectonic period forming the second half covers the structures from the Middle-Upper Miocene to the present. During this period, thrusts in NS direction were replaced by the strike-slip faulting tectonics. This period during which vertical direction of tectonic movement also gained weight, throughout the East Anatolian Fault Zone in the South, Yorgançay the-Kaynarca fault in the east, and secondary faults that Bahçeköy and Yoklular Faults the mountainous areas rose and received current position. Under the fault tectonics and general rise in this period to a large extent the current geomorphology of main units were formed. The crevices occured in Neotectonic period led to the formation of Bingol, Şerafettin, Turna and Şeytan mountains. Basalt volcanism covering wide area led to the formation of the volcanic plateau. This plateaus are divided into three levels depending on elevation. In particular, covering wide area in the northeast and south of the basin, these flat lands due to hosting grass and pasture vegetation are used as pastureland. In the north basin erosional plains were formed at three different altitudes. In the early Quaternary with the opening of the basin to the outside drainage river terraces seen in the the valley Peri river and Göynük river shows the rise of the study area in different periods. However, the terraces under the influence of tectonic movements are impaired. Along the strike-slip fault zone; pent-up valleys and ridges, fault valleys, linear unhooked the valleys, linear depression areas, fault scarps, fault lakes, alluvial cones and fans, mass movements, springs and young basalt output were observed. In Karlıova Basin there are major problems resulting from geological and geomorphological features such as the improper selection of the settlements, and improper land use, erosion, mass movements, seismicity, avalanches, floods and rock falls. Especially due to the earthquake and mass movements are experienced significant losses of life and property. Experienced landslides directly affect human and economic activities. These problems continues to be current. Therefore the risk studies of field have been conducted. Key Words: Karlıova Basin, Triple Junction, Active Tectonics, Fault Wedge Basin, Göynük Stream, North Anatolian Fault, East Anatolian Fau