The Geographical Characteristics of Villages in Caybagi River Basin - Tapa blanda

Caybagi (Kotur) River basin is located in the east of the country within the boundaries of Saray district of Van province. Various characteristics of village settlements were researched in this study, including the physical features and human environment of the region. The absence of agricultural land, and the failure of existing cultivated land, produce a low yield of crops and raised animals, causing inadequate subsistence through agricultural production. Accordingly, households in rural settlements that do not get along are driven to a quest for a better life by migrating to various towns and cities. Improving the economic and social opportunities in rural settlements will reduce the migration. Therefore, the development of facilities for education, health, communications and transportation are important. Improving agricultural standards by feeding more efficient animal breeds, improving irrigation facilities, using more efficient seeds, and expanding the product range, can contribute to making alternative livelihoods that potentially will allow the increase of incomes of rural households and make land ownership more appealing.

Murat Yılmaz completed his PhD in Ataturk University Social Sciences Institute Geography Department. There are 10 articles published in the related field by the author working in the fields of population and settlement geography. The author has two books: Turkey's Changing Population Structure and Erçek Lake Basin's Human and Economical Geography.