Abeer's Blog

  WEEK 5.            Although Turkey is primarily known for its seismic activity due to its location along major fault lines, the country does have some volcanic activity. The most well-known volcanoes in Turkey are Mount Erciyes, Mount Ararat, and Mount Nemrut, which are classified as dormant. The last significant eruption in Turkey occurred at Mount Nemrut around 1650 B.C. Though volcanic eruptions are not very frequent, turkey still keeps up with it just in case. Volcanic Hazards from Neighboring Countries particularly Greece and Italy, have active volcanoes that could affect the region under certain conditions. Greece’s Santorini and Italy’s Mount Etna and Vesuvius are the most notable volcanic threats. Santorini (Greece): Santorini is an active volcanic island about 400 kilometers southwest of Turkey. Its most famous eruption in 1600 B.C. caused a massive tsunami that affected the eastern Mediterranean, including the Aegean coastline of Turkey. Wh...

Week 3: Earthquakes  Turkey's Earthquakes and Seismicity Turkey is situated on the North Anatolian Fault (NAF), a significant strike-slip fault system, making it one of the most seismically active nations in the world. This fault, which divides the Anatolian and Eurasian tectonic plates, has caused some of the biggest and most catastrophic earthquakes to ever strike the area. Most notably the 1999 İzmit earthquake, which claimed over 17,000 lives and left extensive damage in its wake. What Causes Turkey's High Seismic Activity? Turkey is constantly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location between the African, Arabian, and Eurasian tectonic plates. The North Anatolian Fault, which we discussed before, is a major reason for its major earthquakes. It mostly runs through northern Turkey, near densely populated areas like Istanbul, and is comparable to California's San Andreas Fault. Apart from the NAF, Turkey is susceptible to frequent and occasionally intense seismic acti...