Abstract
DETERMINATION, MAPPING AND ANALYSIS OF LAND-USE CHANGES IN ÇORLU RIVER BASIN (THRACE PENINSULA)
This study aims at determining, mapping and analysis of land-use changes in Çorlu River basin. Basic research questions of the study are what kind of changes have occured in land-use, and the reasons and effects of these changes in a period of 25 years (1990-2015). Natural environment in research field has experienced significant changes in recent years especially due to the human activities. Wrong land-use practices have increased in Çorlu river basin in recent years because of population growth, industrialization and rapid urbanization, thereby, land-use changes due to these developments have become an important natural environmental problem. These human activities have yielded some crucial impacts on the components of natural environment. We tried to display general geographical characteristics of Çorlu river basin, and land cover changes in this basin using thematic maps, socio-economic statistics prepared by various institutions, and satellite images belonging to different years (1990-2015). Mapping and analysis operations are made by using geographical information system techniques through ArcGIS10.3 program. The findings of the study revealed that settlement areas, water masses, irrigated agricultural lands and mine pit lands have expanded; but agricultural lands, pastures and forest lands have contracted. In conclusion, it is found that land-use changes have occurred in the basin to a great extent in the last 25 years.
Keywords
Land-use changes, Population growth, Industrialization, Rapid urbanization, Çorlu river basin, Thrac
