Geomorphology of Yatağan Plain and its near surroundings (Muğla) and natural environment human relations

The research area, Yatağan and its surroundings, is located in the Menteşe Region of the Main Aegean Section of the Aegean Region and administratively in the province of Muğla. This area, which corresponds to the Yatağan Neogene basin, is located in the south of the Büyük Menderes River. Yatağan Plain, which is located in the Menteşe mountain system, is surrounded by Gökbel Mountain (1422 m) in the north, Muğla Karlık (1858 m) in the east, Göktepe (1892 m), Karadağ Hill in the south (1034 m), Kurus Hill and Bencik Mountain in the west. The highest point of the study area is Gök Tepe (1892 m) on the Oyuklu Mountain in the east. Its lowest point is the alluvial fill area between Yeniköy and Şahinler, located on the NW of Yatağan, at 330 m. In the study, ArcGIS (10.8) from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software was used to evaluate the relationship between the geomorphological units of Yatağan and its surroundings and the natural environment. In the study, the geomorphological features of Yatağan and its surroundings were investigated and the past and present land use situations of the existing geomorphological units were revealed. Findings were revealed by analyzing the data obtained, and the geomorphological features of the study area were explained with the help of current maps and area calculations created based on these findings. Land use in and around Yatağan Plain has developed under the control of geomorphological units. The altitude, slope, climate and soil conditions of the Oyuklu Mountain, Bencik and Kurukümes Mountains have had significant effects on land use. As a result, while forest, heath and pasture areas occupy a large area in mountainous areas, agricultural activities are carried out on the plains where the slope decreases.