Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Polje of Akseki, The Formation and The Development of The Intramontane Plains in The Karstic Areas in The Taurus

Abstract: Akseki Plain is a small intramontane basin located at the north of Alanya in the highest part of TaurusMountain Range. This plain is a polje as far as the geomorphological characteristics are concerned. Compared with itsnearest surroundings the geological structure of this polje shows close similarities to the intramontane plains whichare various in number and size at the central and the West Taurus. Almost half of the polje basin is surrounded byboth the karstic pure limestones of the mesozoic age and an old Paleo-Eocen flysh formation which doesn`t show anyevidence of karstification. The floor of the polje is covered by a thin alluvial soil. In a large pat of it the eroded headsof the beds of flysh marn and limestones are expodes; even in a small part, mostly in marginal areas, the formation ofkarstic island hills has been observed (hum). Although surface drainage is effective in a small part of this polje, thelarger pat is drained by ponors lying in the South and the West. In some areas where ponors are found surroundinglimestone mountains of polje are steeply sloping. In the same areas it is generally noticed that the chemical solutionhas continued progressively and still continues. As a result of this study it is found that there are many factors in theformation and the developement of Akseki Polje. Of which the most important one is the mechanical erosion and thecarrying capability of the rivers, yet the tectonic movements in part and the carstic solutions in some small areas aoreeffective.