FROM PAST TO PRESENT: FLOODING IN EDIRNE AND ITS VICINITY (TURKEY)

Abstract

Catastrophic floods frequently occur in Edirne and its close vicinity. Various aspects of these floods are examined by many researchers. This study attempts to answer the question of which geographic factors cause flooding and show how they have undergone changes over time creating more flooding than expected.Part of a larger scale project, this approach focuses on the topographic characteristics of the area, drainage features, climatic and land-use characteristics.Where possible it has been attempted to examine these geographic characteristicsin Ottoman and Republic periods respectively.The paper examines flood activity through Ottoman and Republic period topography maps belonging to the area, old flood recordings, Ottoman buildings such as palace, caravanserai, fountain, bridges which lie within the flood zone, the locations of residences, and social, cultural and religious places. The obtained data has been correlated with the current conditions for flood, and comparisons have been made between the flood activities in the past and present. The results indicate that floods exist at all times but there are remarkable differences in their frequency,intensity and impact zone.