The Natural and Humanitarian Factors Affecting the Land Use in Aliaga

Aliaga town is located in the back zone of Candarli Gulf. It occupies an area of 274 square kilometres. The land within the border of the town has a slightly steepy topography. External and internal forces have impact in shaping of this topography. While there is an agricultural diversity in alluvial areas of the town, livestock breeding has priority in higher and mountainous areas. In Aliaga, %44 of the land area is accounted for cultivation, %21 for forested and heathy areas, %19,9 for pasture-meadow, % 14,9 non-agricultural areas and % 0,1 for water surface. Despite Aliaga's advantageous physical geographical conditions in terms of land use, the misuse or using the land out of main purpose caused by humanitarian factors has created so many problems. The reduction of agricultural, forested, pastured areas and the environmental pollution are among the main problems. To solve the problems related to land use in Aliaga will only be possible through area planning based on human-nature relationship and through performing human activities in accordance these plans. In this study, the natural habitat in Aliaga with human relations is stated first, later the effects of human being activities on the land use are examined. The main aim of this study is to point out the effects of natural and humanitarian factors on the land use in Aliaga province and also to provide the problems encountered in using the land and to offer suggestions for solving these problems.