Çal Kanyonu ve Çevresinin (Denizli, GB Anadolu) Jeolojik-Jeomorfolojik Özellikleri ve Jeoturizm Potansiyeli.

Gül, Arzu; Özkul, Mehmet

The Çal Canyon, one of the geological values of Denizli province, is located in the upper course of the Büyük Menderes River near the town of Çal. The oldest rock units around the canyon are schists and marbles of the Menderes Massif. The metamorphic units overlie the carbonate (limestone, dolomitic limestone) and ophiolitic rocks of the Lycian nappes with a tectonic contact. These basement units were unconformably covered by the upper Miocene to Pliocene continental succession, which is composed of fluvial, lacustrine and alluvial deposits. The canyon, which is 65 km northeast of the provincial capital of Denizli, is 4 km away from the town of Çal. The depth of the canyon, which developed in the marble of the NE-SW trending Menderes Massif, is 60 meters. The altitudes of the entrance and exit points of the canyon are 760 m and 700 m, respectively; consequently, there is a difference of 60 m. The high slopes of the canyon are close to 90° at some points. The canyon, which started to form at the end of the Pliocene, continued its development in the Quaternary. Its length is 3 km, in a N-S direction. The ridge where the canyon developed has a threshold between the Çivril-Baklan graben to the east and the Çal basin to the west. The canyon also creates a hydraulic connection between these two depressions. On the cascading and irregular canyon floor, waterfalls a few meters high, along with potholes, have developed. In the study area, the canyon stands out as a geological value. However, apart from the canyon, there are also historical and cultural values. To the south are the ruins of the ancient city of Lounda at the entrance of the canyon. On the other hand, there is the historical Hançalar Bridge and Kayı Bazaar to the north. As an intangible cultural value, a 'sheep passing' festival is held in the waters of the Büyük Menderes River every year in the village of Aşağıseyit near Çal in the last week of August. The canyon area, which is easy to access and close to various settlements, is quite suitable for geotourism activities with its geological diversity and landscape features. The aim of this study was to investigate the geological-geomorphological features of the Çal Canyon and its surroundings from a cultural-geological perspective as well as to reveal the extensive geotourism potential.

DENIZLI Ili (Turkey); GEOMORPHOLOGY; PLATE tectonics; ALLUVIUM; PLIOCENE Epoch

Mathematical Reports, 2023, Vol 25, Issue 1, p107

1582-3067

Academic Journal

10.25288/tjb.935447