Kars province is located in the Erzurum-Kars Region of the Eastern Anatolia Region in Turkey. Ardahan is located in the north, Armenia in the east, Iğdır and Ağrı in the south, and Erzurum in the West.
According to TUİK data for 2022, the population of the city is 281,077. Of this, 141,467 live in provincial and district centres and 139,610 live in villages and towns. The population of Kars constitutes 0.33% of Turkey’s population and ranks 41st in the population ranking of Turkey’s provinces.
Kars is located in the coldest region of the Eastern Anatolia Region, so the continental climate prevails in this region. In the province, where winters are dry and summers are rainy, temperatures in the winter season drop to -39°C from time to time. The average number of days covered with snow is more than 120. 55.81% of the active population is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Kars geography is home to plateau and mountain meadows, which are considered as important environmental systems. Nearly 1250 seeded plants grow naturally in this area. 100 of these plants are rare plant species (for example; lathyrus karsianus, festuka karsiana, allium karsianum) that do not grow anywhere else in the world. There are many plant species bearing the name of Kars.
Author(s) Details:
Asya Çetinkaya
Department of Food Engineering, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Kafkas University, TR-36100 Kars, Turkey.
Güven Gülbaz
Department of Food Engineering, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Kafkas University, TR-36100 Kars, Turkey.
Recent Global Research Developments in Overview of Kars Province: Geography, Climate, and Population
Global Distribution of Karst and Carbonate Rocks:
Karst regions are characterized by unique geological features, such as caves, sinkholes, and underground rivers. These areas offer essential natural resources like freshwater and biodiversity.
The World Karst Aquifer Map (WOKAM) is a comprehensive global database that identifies potential karst aquifers by mapping the distribution of karstifiable rocks (mainly carbonates and evaporites).
Key findings from WOKAM:
Approximately 15.2% of the ice-free continental surface worldwide contains karstifiable carbonate rock.
Europe has the highest percentage of karst areas (21.8%), while Asia has the largest absolute area (8.35 million km²).
Different topographic settings host karst: 31.1% in plains, 28.1% in hills, and 40.8% in mountains.
151,400 km of marine coastlines are characterized by carbonate rocks.
Karst occurs in various climatic zones: 34.2% in arid climates, 28.2% in cold climates, 15.9% in temperate climates, and smaller percentages in tropical and polar climates.
Globally, 1.18 billion people (16.5% of the population) live in karst areas, with Asia having the highest absolute number (661.7 million).
These findings emphasize the global importance of karst and provide a foundation for further research and water management strategies [1].
Unique Karst Landscapes in China:
China boasts one of the world’s largest continuous karst regions, located in the southwestern part of the country.
Notable features include:
Towers (fenglin): Tall limestone formations resembling pillars.
Pinnacles (shilin): Pointed rock formations.
Cones (fengcong): Circular depressions with limestone hills around them.
Giant collapse depressions (tiankeng): Enormous sinkholes.
Gorges and caverns.
This region also supports rich biodiversity [2].
Climate Change Adaptation in Karst Areas:
Farm households in karst regions are aware of climate change and adapt their agriculture practices accordingly.
These adaptations help mitigate the impact of changing climatic conditions on their livelihoods [3].
References
- Goldscheider, N., Chen, Z., Auler, A.S. et al. Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources. Hydrogeol J 28, 1661–1677 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02139-5
- Wang, K., Zhang, C., Chen, H. et al. Karst landscapes of China: patterns, ecosystem processes and services. Landscape Ecol 34, 2743–2763 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00912-w
- Abid, M., Scheffran, J., Schneider, U. A., and Ashfaq, M.: Farmers’ perceptions of and adaptation strategies to climate change and their determinants: the case of Punjab province, Pakistan, Earth Syst. Dynam., 6, 225–243, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-6-225-2015, 2015.
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