GEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ÇITDERE NATURAL PROTECTION AREA

Abstract: Karabük region has a dense forest area. The forest area is one of most important location for Oxygen content in Turkey. There are many nature and wildlife protection areas in the Karabük region. Çitdere region is a Nature Protection Area (NPA) in Karabük province. The Çitdere Nature Protection Area (ÇNPA) consists of two polygon and different types of rock community. ÇNAP covers of Early-Late Cretaceous Ulus formation. Ulus formation consists of Early-Late Cretaceous clastic sedimentary rocks (conglomerate-sandstone-mudstone and marl alternation). The Sunduk member (as a member of the Ulus formation) include carbonate rocks. The southern polygon of the ÇNAP consists of clastic rocks and the northern polygon consists of carbonate rocks. The ÇNAP is very close to the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). Therefore, the region is frequently influenced by active seismic movement. Seismic movements affect very loosely packed sedimentary rocks more than carbonated rocks. So, the karstic limestones (Late Cretaceous Ulus formation-Sunduk member) in the northern polygonal contain safer areas for natural wildlife. This situation shows that the areas of the Çitdere Nature Conservation consisting of carbonates rocks resistance to landslides and earthquakes. Furthermore, the area including of karstic carbonate rocks covers natural shelters and feeding areas to natural wildlife.