Geography

Çorum province lies in the inner part of the Central Black Sea Region. It is bordered by Amasya to the east, Yozgat to the south, Çankırı to the west, Sinop to the north, Samsun to the northeast and Kırıkkale to the southwest. Its area is 12,820 km².

In terms of latitude and longitude, it is located between 34 degrees 04 minutes 28 seconds east longitude and 39 degrees 54 minutes 20 seconds north latitude. Its average elevation above sea level (altitude) is 801 m.

Topography: Two main rock (mass) groups stand out in the region’s geological structure. The first of these is the “Metamorphic series” (transformed rocks), and the second is the “Sedimentary Masses”. The province’s principal geological character was formed by the formations that occurred at the end of the Tertiary period and during the Quaternary period. Along with this, various metamorphic (transformed) soils belonging to the Archean and Precambrian periods, known as the primal eras among the geological periods, have been found in the Çorum Central District, Alaca, İskilip, Osmancık, Mecitözü and especially the Kargı districts. In particular, gypsum (limestone) and rock-salt beds, which are among the masses of the Tertiary period, as well as rich lignite coal beds with a carbon content of about 75% (in the Osmancık, Dodurga area with a reserve of 30 million tons, and also in the villages of Alpagut-Zambal-Karakaya-Ayva and Ovacık) are found. Likewise, mass terrain such as Trachyte, Granite, Basalt and Andesite, which are among the volcanic masses of this period, is also found in the Çorum central district and in the Kargı, Sungurlu, Alaca, Mecitözü, Osmancık and İskilip districts. Sedimentary masses are found in most areas of the province. Çorum lies on the N.A.F. (North Anatolian Fault Line), which is part of the system known as the Alpine-Himalayan Orogeny (mountain formation). The N.A.F. passes 20 km north of the provincial center.

Climate: Çorum province is in the transition zone from the Black Sea climate to the Central Anatolian climate. Summers are hot and dry, winters are cold and snowy. The districts of Kargı, Osmancık, İskilip, Laçin, Dodurga, Oğuzlar and Bayat, located in the northern part of the province, are districts under the influence of the Inner Black Sea transition climate. The Çorum Central District, Sungurlu, Alaca, Boğazkale, Ortaköy, Mecitözü and Uğurludağ districts display the characteristics of the Central Anatolian steppe climate.

According to meteorological measurements made since 1929, the average annual rainfall has been determined as 423.0 mm in the provincial center, 376.0 mm in Alaca, 445.2 mm in Bayat, 490.3 mm in Boğazkale, 373.2 mm in Dodurga, 484.8 mm in İskilip, 360.3 mm in Kargı, 530.2 mm in Laçin, 422.7 mm in Mecitözü, 409.5 mm in Ortaköy, 368.1 mm in Osmancık, 438.1 mm in Sungurlu, and 450 mm in Uğurludağ.

The average annual temperature of the provincial center is 10.7º. The highest temperature was measured as 42.7 ºC in July 2000, and the lowest temperature as -27.2 ºC in February 1985. July and August are the hottest months.

Across the province, the northeasterly wind (poyraz), which begins blowing in the afternoon and continues until 22:00 at night during the summer season, is influential. This hot and scorching wind, sometimes called the “reverse wind”, is harmful to agricultural areas. In winter the northerly wind (yıldız) blows, and in spring the southwesterly wind (lodos) blows. These winds cause abundant rainfall and sometimes hail. In autumn, generally calm weather is observed. Among the people, these months are called the “deaf months”.

Vegetation and Wildlife: The natural vegetation of the southern part of Çorum province is steppe. They turn green with the spring rains and dry up in autumn. Examples of these include the daisy, poppy, camel thistle, “köy göçeren” thistle, “çakır” thistle, milk thistle, mullein, and wormwood (yavşan), which have found a wide distribution area. Along the streams, varieties of willow and poplar are found. In the high areas of Alaca, Sungurlu, Ortaköy and Mecitözü, oak, juniper and black pine trees are found. With the arrival of spring, crocus, wild hyacinth and wild tulip flowers are also seen.

In the districts to the north of the province, oak forests and coniferous forests are found.

In areas 1,000-1,200 m above sea level, oak, cornelian cherry, wild plum, apple, hawthorn and wild rose are commonly seen. Around Hacıhamza, linden trees are found sparsely.

In the districts of Kargı, İskilip, Osmancık and Bayat, Scots pine, black pine, fir and red pine trees are seen. The total forest and scrubland area is 365,208 ha, which is about 28% of the provincial area.