Turkish karst aquifers

One third of Turkey’s surface is underlain by carbonate rocksthat have been subdivided into four karstregions. The carbonate rockunits are about 200 km wide along the Taurus Mountains that attain elevations of 2500 m. Karstfeatures of western Turkey bordering the Aegean and Mediterranean seasdemonstrate the tectonic, lithological and climatic controls on the occurrence, movement, and chemical characteristics of groundwater. In Turkey all karstic feature, such as lapies, caves, sinkholes, uvalas, poljes, ground river valleys developed in all karstic areas. Karstification is related not only to the thickness and to purity of limestone, climate and height but also to tectonic movements. Water resources of karstterrains of Turkey are relatively rich and as such are very important for the economic development of the country. High mountain chains, very often associated with the karstterrains, are responsible for some important and beneficial characteristics of these water resources. Four karstregions are: (1) Taurus karstregion, (2) southeast Anatolia karstregion, (3) central Anatolia karstregion, and (4) northwest Anatolia and Thrace karstregions.