Editing Anatolia (section)

== Geography ==
The Anatolian Plateau occupies much of the central interior. Elevated plains and enclosed basins form its main landscape, with the terrain rising toward the eastern highlands. [[Lake Tuz]] occupies one of the plateau's closed basins. Volcanic activity formed mountains in central Anatolia, including Mount Erciyes near Kayseri.<ref name="turkey-geography"/> The [[Pontic Mountains]] follow the Black Sea coast. Their northern slopes receive moist air from the sea, while the range restricts direct travel between the coast and the plateau. The [[Taurus Mountains]] form a similar barrier above the Mediterranean coast. Passes through the range connect central Anatolia with Cilicia and the southern lowlands.

Western Anatolia is lower than the central plateau. Fault movement created valleys that extend toward the Aegean Sea. Rivers deposited fertile soil across their floors before reaching the coast. The partly submerged coastline contains long peninsulas and deep gulfs, allowing inland routes to reach sheltered ports.<ref name="aegean-geography"/> Northwestern Anatolia reaches the [[Sea of Marmara]]. The [[Bosporus]] separates the peninsula from East Thrace at [[Istanbul]], while the [[Dardanelles]] separates northwestern Anatolia from the Gallipoli Peninsula. The two straits and the Sea of Marmara form the maritime passage between the Black Sea and the Aegean.<ref name="black-sea-geography"/>

Eastern Anatolia consists mainly of high plateaus and mountain ranges. The upper courses of the [[Euphrates]] and [[Tigris]] originate there before flowing southward. [[Lake Van]] occupies a large enclosed basin within the eastern highlands. Anatolia is tectonically active because pressure along its southern and eastern margins moves the Anatolian Plate westward relative to Eurasia. The North Anatolian Fault crosses the northern part of the peninsula, while the East Anatolian Fault follows part of its southeastern margin. Movement along these fault systems has caused repeated destructive earthquakes.

The [[Kızılırmak]] crosses central Anatolia before reaching the Black Sea. The [[Sakarya River]] drains much of the northwestern interior. Rivers in western Anatolia flow through agricultural valleys toward the Aegean, while enclosed basins on the central plateau prevent some watercourses from reaching the sea. Climate varies according to elevation and distance from the coast. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have hot, dry summers followed by mild, wetter winters. Moist air from the Black Sea produces greater rainfall along the northern slopes of the Pontic Mountains. Central Anatolia is drier and has colder winters, while the eastern highlands experience prolonged snow. Forests cover much of the wetter northern terrain. Dry grassland dominates the central plateau, and Mediterranean woodland grows across the western and southern coastal regions.