Turkey Surface

Surface Morphology.

Turkey’s geopolitical structure formed as a result of an evolution that took approximately 600 million years. The country is a true mosaic in terms of geomorphologic processes and the morphology formed through these events.  The  country  possesses all  types  of geological formations of various eras. Turkey’s topography is varied, having high elevations and lofty mountains. There are high mountain ranges in the north and south. These mountain ranges generally extend parallel to the coast. The North Anatolian Mountains span the Black Sea Region and the Taurus Mountains in the south determine Turkey’s high elevation. The highest point of the North Anatolian Mountains is the Kaçkar Peak. Ilgaz and Köroğlu mountains are the second and third in height, respectively. The Samanlı Mountains, Uludağ, Istranca Mountains and Tekirdağ are located in the Marmara Region; the Kozak, Yunt and Aydın mountains in the Aegean Region; Mount Kızıldağ, Mount Hasan, and the İdris, Elma and Ayaş mountains are located in the Central Anatolia Region; and the Karacadağ, Raman and Sof mountains are located in the Southeastern Anatolian Region. The 5,137 m. high Ağrı Mountain (Mount Ararat), is Turkey’s highest mountain. Mount Süphan, which is a dormant volcanic mountain near Ararat, is located in the Eastern Anatolian Region along with Nemrut and Alacadağ.

Mount Nemrut crater lake

The mountains in Turkey cover an extensive area, but there are also many plains, plateaus and depressions. The large plains in the central part of Anatolia separate the mountain ranges to the north and to  the  south  of  the  country.  The arable plains suitable for agriculture are the Bafra, Çarşamba and Merzifon plains in the Black Sea Region; the Konya Plain in the Central Anatolian Region; the Bakırçay, Gediz, Büyük Menderes and Küçük Menderes plains in the Aegean Region; the Çukurova Plain in the Mediterranean Region; and the Muş Plain in the Southeast Anatolia region.