Abanoz plateau (Mersin)

Abstract

Abanoz Plateau is located in 36o 18’ north latitude and 32o 56’ east longitude on Taşeli plateau in the borders of Çukurabanoz Village connected to Anamur district of Mersin city. The plateau was set on a polje that is surrounded by the contour line of 1450 m. on the 52nd km. of Anamur-Ermenek highway. The aim of this study is to contribute to its presentation by determining geographical elements that are efficient for the settlement and improvement of Abanoz Plateau. In the preparation of the study firstly in the different times of the year (2008 July, 2008 December) land studies and required negotiations were performed. In the meantime, both Çukurabanoz Headmanship’s and some official institutions’ data were followed up. Then the land data obtained in the plateau (photograph, statistical information and negotiation notes) and gathered statistical data were commented and the plateau was evaluated in terms of accommodation geography. At the end of the study, some advices and results were tried to be set forted about the plateau accommodation. Transhumance in Anamur is a significant activity. Transhumants that use Anamur beaches as winter quarters in winter, migrates to plateaus that have various altitudes being on Taşeli Plateau as from April. There are 37 small and large plateau settlements belonging to district centre and villages in Taşeli Plateau. The most important plateaus of these are: Kaş, Abanoz, Akpınar, Kaysan, Çandır, Çamurlu, Barçın, Elbalak, Halkalı, Sanova, Kırkkuyu. The improvements in socio-economic structures of people living in Anamur and Anamur villages have changed the transhumance based on husbandry in a big deal. Instead of that, countryside transhumance has come into prominence in order to get rid of hot and moist air. After all, plateaus in which transhumance are being performed are available. The most developed caduceus countryside settlement in Anamur is Abanoz Plateau. Geographical elements have got significant roles on the establishments and developments of this plateau. In terms of physical geography, the plateau reflects the features of Taşeli Plateau character. Because in Taşeli Plateau, Miocene limestone that is horizontally stratified and eligible to melt, is common. A number of karstic melting and deposition patterns developed on these limestones. One of the karstic melting patterns, Abanoz polje has been the most important factor enabling the emplacement of the plateau. Since the plateau is in high place comparing with coastal zone in Mediterranean climate (1450 m.) becomes an auspicious habitat in terms of climate conditions in summer. When the distribution of climate data is taken into account according to seasons and months, in the plateau around Mediterranean mountain climate is seen that is hot, dry in summer and rainy, harsh climate. Depressive air conditions of which moisture gradient is extremely high affect human life negatively. That reason comprises a significant effect in moving plateaus of people in summer months. And this shows us the effect of physical geographical elements in improvement of transhumance that is the one of anthropogeography elements. Yoruks who settled around Anamur in Seljuk Period, continued transhumance through long ages that is based on husbandry as a continuance of Middle East migration culture. However, improving of life conditions of the public in aspect of socioeconomy also affected transhumance activity. Because the public getting along with nomadic livestock, inclined to agriculture based on greenhousing. As a result of this, leisure and recreation activities became widespread. In the mean time we performed land studies in Abanoz Plateau, making the amount of population is hard due to the fact that there is no regular enumeration. However, according to both Çukurabanoz Headmanship and the numbers of electric and water subscribers, 7500 people were determined involving in the activity of transhumance in 2008 transhumance period. The population in the plateau starts coming beginning from April and becomes the highest level in July and August. In the plateau, local services that are necessary to be in a settlement are available. In the period of transhumance, social and commercial services like health centre, mosque, grocery store, restaurant, bake house, butcher, coffee houses that can fulfil the needs are available. There has been no important substructure problem like electric supply, transportation, water supply, telephoning. However, there can be some water cuts when population level is high in summer months (July, August) While traditional houses that are suitable for nature conditions were common in Abanoz Plateau in the past, today concrete type houses (two-three storey in patches) that do not reflect natural beauty of the plateau are being built. In these buildings, manufacturing-produced construction material (like cement, brick, iron and lime) is used mostly. Ponding that is made by doline’s not being able to debark the upward water in winter months that evacuates water, is built on concrete poles in order not to damage the houses are polje base. Economic activity areas of people going up to the plateau in Abanoz, are mostly in the permanent settlements. For that reason, economic activity is not common in the plateau. However, economic activities of which gaining are not so much high like commercial shops, husbandry, agriculture and apiculture that fulfil the needs of transhumants. In 2008 transhumance season, as commercial workplaces, 6 grocery stores, 6 bake houses, 3 restaurants, 3 butchers, 4 coffee houses offered services. Most of the commercial workings in the plateau are food premises. This is because the population predominantly consists of consuming people like retired, student, worker and officer. Transhumants fulfil their needs from plateau bazaar that is set every Wednesday. In husbandry which is an old economic activity in plateau, mostly hair goat raising is i

Özet

Abanoz yaylası, Taşeli platosu üzerinde Anamur-Ermenek karayolunun 52. km.sinde Mersin ili Anamur ilçesi Çukurabanoz köyü sınırları içinde yer alır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Anamur’un önemli bir sayfiye yaylası olan Abanoz yaylasının kurulmasında ve gelişmesinde etkili olan coğrafi unsurları belirleyerek yaylanın tanıtımına katkıda bulunmaktır. Çalışmada yaylanın gelişiminde etkili olan fiziki, beşeri ve ekonomik coğrafya unsurları, yerel verilerle desteklenerek, Abanoz yayla yerleşmesi ile ilgili sonuç ve öneriler ortaya konmaya çalışılmıştır. Abanoz yaylasının kurulması ve gelişmesinde coğrafi unsurlar birinci derece etkilidir. Çünkü Abanoz karstik oluşumlu bir polye üzerinde kurulmuştur. Akdeniz iklim bölgesindeki yaylanın, kıyı bölgesine göre yüksekte (1450 m.) olması yazın elverişli bir yaşam alanıdır. Tarihi geçmişi olan yaylada nüfusla ilgili düzenli bir sayım yapılmamaktadır. Ancak yayladaki elektrik ve su abone sayısına ve muhtarlık kayıtlarına göre her yıl ortalama 7000-7500 kişinin yaylacılık faaliyetine katıldığı söylenebilir. Yaylada yaylacıların ihtiyacın karşılayan sosyal ve ticari kurumlar mevcut olup, elektrik, ulaşım, su, telefon gibi altyapı problemi yoktur. Abanoz yaylasında eskiden konutlar yaylanın doğal şartlarına uygun geleneksel konutlar iken, bugün yaylanın doğal güzelliğini yansıtmayan ve giderek şehir görüntüsü oluşturan betonarme tipi konutlara dönüşmektedir. Abanoz yaylasında dinlenme ve rekreasyon amaçlı yaylacılık yapıldığı için yaygın bir ekonomik faaliyet yoktur. Ancak yaylada küçük de olsa ticari işyerleri, hayvancılık, tarım, arıcılık gibi ekonomik faaliyetler yapılmaktadır. Abanoz yaylasının yaylacılık fonksiyonu hayvancılığa dayalı yaylacılıktan, dinlenme ve rekreasyon amaçlı yaylacılık haline dönüşmesi bazı değişiklikler ve sorunları da ortaya beraberinde getirmiştir. Bunların başında; yılda ortalama 7500 nüfusun yaşadığı Abanoz yaylasının köy muhtarlığınca idare edilmesi hizmet karşılamada yer yer yetersiz kalmaktadır. Geleneksel dokumacılık ve göçebe yaylacılık kültürü terk edilmiştir. Nüfusun artması düzensiz yerleşme, yayla doğasına uygun olmayan betonarme konutlar, içme suyu yetersizliği ve çevre kirliliği gibi problemleri beraberinde getirmiştir. Abanoz yaylasında tarihi, doğal, kültürel değerlerin korunduğu bir yayla planı hazırlanmalıdır. Bu planlamada öncelikle yayla turizm bölgesi ilan edilmelidir. Daha sonra yayla yerleşme ve konut alanları doğal güzellikleri bozmayacak şekilde düzenlenmelidir. Böylece yayla, daha düzenli, daha iyi yaşam koşullarına uygun doğal bir dinlenme ve rekreasyon alanı olacaktır.