Abstract :
Zivin River Basin is located in the Erzurum-Kars section of East Anatolian region. Zivin River is a part of Aras River and starts from near Hander village, the northeastern part of the study area which are is mountains area. The upper part of the river goes through east-west direction. Starting from the south of Yeniköy village, the river goes to south direction. Between Yeniköy village and Hızırilyas village, Zivin river lies in a valley roughly northeast-southwest direction. After Hızırilyas village, the river follows a direction to the southeast. Then, from south of Okçular neighborhood, the river joins the river Aras. The railway between Sarıkamış and Horasan follows the valley of this river. Also, relatively decreasing the importance over time, a highway also built in this valley. After all, a valley of Zivin river is a natural transportation corridor. For that reason, Zivin River valley was a strategic transportation corridor in the past. Today also the valley is a strategic transportation corridor.Today in the Zivin river basin consists 16 villages and 7 neighborhoods and 23 other rural settlements. The total population of all these settlements is 5968. The average village population in the valley is 383. The lowest population of a village is 84 (Sırataşlar village). The highest populated village is Bulgurlu village (811). İn the River Zivin Basin population was 5416 in 1935 and thereafter it way increased steadily and reached to 10850 in 1970. After 1970, it was started to decrease and came to 6121 in 2013. The even though birth rate is high in the basin; the total population decrease became of the migration to urban centers.The political administration of the valley is divided among different counties. Three villages and six neighborhoods are administratively connected to Horasan County. Thirteen villages and one neighborhood are administratively connected to Sarıkamış County. However, geographical and cultural characteristics of the valley are similar. Economic and cultural relations are developed very well. Employment and economic sources depend on agriculture and livestock in the Zivin river valley. Economically livestock is more important than agriculture. However, agriculture is developed for supporting livestock. In addition, apiculture and forestry are also conducted by few families in the valley.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
River Zivin , Rural Settlement , Migration , Population , Horasan , Sarıkamış , Karaurgan Village
