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Coastal Erosion Threat on the Kızkumu Spit Geotourism Site (SW Turkey): Natural and Anthropogenic Factors

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Abstract

The uniqueness of the spits comes from their special coastal geomorphology. Spit’s evolution is controlled by the fragile environmental conditions, the sediment input, long shore currents, wave, wind and river processes. The Kızkumu Spit, one of the attractive examples (400 m long; 18–48 m wide) is located in an environmentally protected area in southwestern Turkey (Datça-Marmaris). Extending 50 cm below the sea as a red carpet, the spit with its distinctive appearance and mysterious history enhance the site’s attractiveness which brings on the possible anthropogenic effects as overpopulation during summer tourism and the lower sediment influx from improper marine structure. This study characterizes the spit formation via recent and the past satellite images, geological and topographical maps to better figure out the protection pathways. Six locations were defined and twelve beach sediments in total were sampled. The particle size distribution by sieving together with micro-imaging the sediments are combined with the statistical analyses. Mode values from sieve analysis and the red-coloured sediments along the coast which are also visible on satellite images point out that the Kızkumu Spit is fed from north (via Kocapınar Stream Delta and its coast) and east (via Bozeğri Brook). An uncontrolled sand-drawing from the coast, establishing the breakwaters to prevent the longshore currents and waves onto the coastal structures and experiencing walking along the spit, all cause the dispersion of the sediments and very intense erosion on the spit. The results of this study suggest that immediate protection measures (including spit-monitoring, prevention of sand drawing, limitation of daily tourist activities) should be taken for future sustainability of the Kızkumu spit.

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Acknowledgements

The authors of this manuscript would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments which significantly improved the quality of the paper. The editorial handling of Dr. Kevin PAGE and the editorial office of the Geoheritage contributions are highly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, 48100, Kötekli-Menteşe, Muğla, Turkey

    Murat Gül, Ceren Küçükuysal, Esra Çetin, Öykü Ataytür & Ahmed Masud

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  1. Murat Gül
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  2. Ceren Küçükuysal
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  3. Esra Çetin
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  4. Öykü Ataytür
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  5. Ahmed Masud
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Correspondence to Murat Gül.

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Gül, M., Küçükuysal, C., Çetin, E. et al. Coastal Erosion Threat on the Kızkumu Spit Geotourism Site (SW Turkey): Natural and Anthropogenic Factors. Geoheritage 12, 54 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00477-0

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