مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Glaciation and Glacial Landforms on Sandıras Mountain (Muğla, Turkey)

Abstract :

Sandıras Mountain (2295 m above mean sea level) is located in the southwestern part of the Gölgeli Mountains, in southwestern Anatolia and it was affected from the Pleistocene glaciations. Today, especially the northern and northeastern slopes of this mountain have typical erosional and depositional landforms created by glaciations. These are the glacial landforms observed at the lowest altitude in Turkey (1900 m). Additionally, Sandıras Mountain is the area where the Last Glacial Maximum snow line (similar to the equilibrium line altitude; ELA) was the lowest in Anatolian Peninsula. In this study, glacial landforms on Sandıras Mountain were examined and mapped in detail.In addition, the geographical factors (climate mainly) that facilitated the glaciations on Sandıras Mountain were examined and the reasons why the ELAs in the Last Ice Age was at its lowest level were focused on. Glacial landforms are located especially on the northern slopes of Sandıras Mountain and extend down, from the plateau at an altitude of 2240 m to about 1900 m (Fig. 3). Three valleys in this area (the Kartal Lake Valley, the Northwest Valley and the Middle Valley) contain the most important glacial features on the Sandıras Mountain. In these valleys, there are many typical erosional and depositional landforms generated by glaciers, such as cirques, terminal and lateral moraines. Formation and development of the glaciers on Sandıras Mountain occurred as a result of local climatic conditions. The frontal systems over the Mediterranean brought precipitation to the region. They could have touched to Sandıras Mountain, fuelling snow, and facilitating the glaciations during the Last Ice Age (Würm).