Geomorphology and Formation of Natural Travertine Bridges in Diyadin (Ağrı), Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Abstract: This study aims to reveal the geomorphological characteristics of two natural bridges, which are among the rare landforms on the Murat River, and the factors affecting their formation, as well as the main problems relatedto these bridges, the work to be done for protection of the bridges, and their importance as geoheritage. The natural bridges, formed as a result of very special geomorphological processes, are located on the Murat River between the villages of Dibekli-Mollakara-Tazekent-Davut-Göğebakan-Taşbasmak in the south of Diyadin (Ağrı) District, in thearea we can call the Diyadin Geothermal Area (DGA). Observations were made in the field; Geological, geomorphological and tectonic features were examined, the elevations, lengths and widths of travertine ridges, cones and chimneys in the area were measured by a laser meter inorder to reveal the characteristics of travertine accumulation patterns and their coordinates were taken with GPS. Aliterature study was carried out and a geomorphology map was produced with ArcGIS 10.8 package software basedon the digital data obtained in the field studies.Köprüçermik Bridge on the Murat River is 64 m long in a NNW-SSE direction. The width of the bridge varies between 9.5-21 m in the upper section. The Murat River flows in a bed with a width of 7 m under the bridge. The thickness of the travertines forming the bridge is 15 m at the entrance and 22 m at the exit. Travertine depositioncontinues on the eastern slope of the entrance of the bridge.To the north of Köprüçermik Bridge there is a natural bridge called "Kudret Bridge" by the local people. The bridge, which is used as a highway bridge connecting the settlements east and west of the Murat River, is 30 meterswide and 63 meters long. The bridge opens near the NNW end of the travertine ridge extending in a NNW-SSEdirection. Among these natural travertine bridges, Köprüçermik Bridge has features rarely seen in the world. It was formed by the travertine ridges running in different directions because of the thermal waters coming to the surface along the tectonic lines on both sides of the Murat River; first gaining elevation in a vertical direction, and then by the mutual horizontal development of these ridges on the river bed. Kudret Bridge was opened by the Murat River undercutting the travertine ridge and then widening it. Kudret Bridge is a fossilised travertine bridge and has partially lost its primitive morphology. As with otherforms of travertine accumulation in the area (cones, terraces, chimneys, ridges, etc.), travertine bridges also facevarious natural and anthropogenic threats. These accumulated forms in the Diyadin Geothermal Area (DGA) should be protected as a karst geoheritage and the area should be declared as a geopark area.