Why Should the Location of Tunceli City Be Changed? A Proposal for a New Settlement

Bülent Güner; Onur Kırboğa; Zeynel Çılğın

Article Details

Why Should the Location of Tunceli City Be Changed? A Proposal for a New Settlement

Authors:

Bülent Güner | Onur Kırboğa | Zeynel Çılğın

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Beşeri Coğrafyada Kent

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.30 Issue 53, pp.126-136

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353515

pISSN:

1302-7956

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Tunceli became a province in 1935. Then, in 1937, Kalan district was established and made the administrative center of this new province. In 1952, Kalan was renamed Tunceli. The city was developed during the Republican era, beginning with the construction of official buildings on a narrow plateau, surrounded by village settlements on the slopes. Over time, with government housing and local residents moving in, the settlement grew rapidly into a town. The citys location was chosen due to political circumstances rather than urban planning goals. As the city expanded beyond its original site, with its eight neighborhoods, it now spreads over an area of 27 km² and has a population of 36,000 2023. However, due to topographic barriers, the city has developed on unstable ground, facing threats from occasional landslides and the potential for a destructive earthquake from the Yedisu Fault. Considering the expected earthquake and topography that adversely affects urbanization, the city settlement should be moved 15 km south to Yeniköy. With an area of 87 km², the Yeniköy area has very favorable geological, topographical and transportation infrastructure for a healthy urban settlement. This study aims to offer a vision for the citys future by exploring the problems associated with Tuncelis current location and evaluating the potential of the proposed site.

 Tunceli became a province in 1935. Then, in 1937, Kalan district was established and made the administrative center of this new province. In 1952, Kalan was renamed Tunceli. The city was developed during the Republican era, beginning with the construction of official buildings on a narrow plateau, surrounded by village settlements on the slopes. Over time, with government housing and local residents moving in, the settlement grew rapidly into a town. The citys location was chosen due to political circumstances rather than urban planning goals. As the city expanded beyond its original site, with its eight neighborhoods, it now spreads over an area of 27 km² and has a population of 36,000 2023. However, due to topographic barriers, the city has developed on unstable ground, facing threats from occasional landslides and the potential for a destructive earthquake from the Yedisu Fault. Considering the expected earthquake and topography that adversely affects urbanization, the city settlement should be moved 15 km south to Yeniköy. With an area of 87 km², the Yeniköy area has very favorable geological, topographical and transportation infrastructure for a healthy urban settlement. This study aims to offer a vision for the citys future by exploring the problems associated with Tuncelis current location and evaluating the potential of the proposed site.

 Tunceli became a province in 1935. Then, in 1937, Kalan district was established and made the administrative center of this new province. In 1952, Kalan was renamed Tunceli. The city was developed during the Republican era, beginning with the construction of official buildings on a narrow plateau, surrounded by village settlements on the slopes. Over time, with government housing and local residents moving in, the settlement grew rapidly into a town. The citys location was chosen due to political circumstances rather than urban planning goals. As the city expanded beyond its original site, with its eight neighborhoods, it now spreads over an area of 27 km² and has a population of 36,000 2023. However, due to topographic barriers, the city has developed on unstable ground, facing threats from occasional landslides and the potential for a destructive earthquake from the Yedisu Fault. Considering the expected earthquake and topography that adversely affects urbanization, the city settlement should be moved 15 km south to Yeniköy. With an area of 87 km², the Yeniköy area has very favorable geological, topographical and transportation infrastructure for a healthy urban settlement. This study aims to offer a vision for the citys future by exploring the problems associated with Tuncelis current location and evaluating the potential of the proposed site.

 Tunceli 1935 yılında vilayet haline getirilmiştir. 1937 yılında Kalan kazası kurulmuş ve bu yeni vilayetin idari merkezi yapılmıştır. 1952 yılında Kalan kazasının adı Tunceli olarak değiştirilmiştir. Tunceli bütünüyle bir Cumhuriyet kentidir. Kentin kuruluşu, yamaçlarında köy yerleşimi bulunan dar ve boş bir plato alanına bazı resmi yapıların inşasıyla başlamıştır. Zamanla memur lojmanları ve halkın iskânıyla nüfuslanan yerleşme, kısa sürede kasaba büyüklüğüne ulaşmıştır. Bu bağlamda Tunceli kentinin kuruluş yerinin belirlenmesinde kentleşme hedeflerinden ziyade konjonktürel nedenler etkili olmuştur. Kent yerleşimi zaman içinde genişlemiş ve kuruluş yerinden taşmıştır. Günümüzde kent 8 mahallesiyle 27 km²lik bir alanda yayılış göstermektedir. Nüfusu 36 bin kişidir 2023. Kent, topografik engeller nedeniyle büyük ölçüde riskli zeminler üzerinde gelişmektedir. Zaman zaman gerçekleşen kütle hareketleri ve Yedisu Fayının yakın vadede üretmesi beklenen yıkıcı deprem, yerleşmeleri tehdit etmektedir. Kent yerleşimi, beklenen deprem ve kentleşmeyi olumsuz etkileyen topografyası nedeniyle 15 km kadar güneye, Yeniköy mevkiine taşınmalıdır. Yeniköy mevkii 87 km² kadar alanıyla sağlıklı bir kentsel yapılaşma için jeolojik, topografik ve ulaşım altyapısı açısından oldukça elverişli özelliklere sahiptir. Bu çalışma mevcut kent yerleşmesinin bulunduğu yer nedeniyle karşı karşıya olduğu sorunları ve önerilen yeni kent alanının niteliklerini belirleyerek, kentin geleceğine ilişkin bir vizyon oluşturmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Article Details

Why Should the Location of Tunceli City Be Changed? A Proposal for a New Settlement

Authors:

Bülent Güner | Onur Kırboğa | Zeynel Çılğın

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Beşeri Coğrafyada Kent

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.30 Issue 53, pp.126-136

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353515

pISSN:

1302-7956

Tunceli

earthquake

settlement

relocated settlementsTunceli

deprem

yerleşme

yer değiştiren yerleşmeler

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Bülent Güner | Onur Kırboğa | Zeynel Çılğın

Publisher: Ataturk University

Main Topics: Beşeri Coğrafyada Kent

Journal: Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.30 Issue 53, pp.126-136

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001353515

pISSN: 1302-7956

Issues

Authors:

Bülent Güner | Onur Kırboğa | Zeynel Çılğın

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Beşeri Coğrafyada Kent

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.30 Issue 53, pp.126-136

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353515

pISSN:

1302-7956