Geography Department Students Conducted Field Practice at Sagalassos Ancient City and Isparta Gölcük Nature Park Area

With the participation of our Faculty's Geography Department students, under the supervision of Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Uğur TOZKOPARAN and Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Onur YAYLA, a field study was conducted on December 19, 2025, in the areas of natural and cultural heritage located in Sagalassos Ancient City in Burdur province and Gölcük Nature Park in Isparta province, within the scope of Turkey Tourism Geography, Cultural Heritage Tourism, Volcanic Topography, Hydrography, Turkey Geomorphology courses. 
Within the scope of the field studies, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Uğur TOZKOPARAN provided information about the establishment, historical development, cultural heritage elements in the city, and the importance of the city in terms of tourism geography of Sagalassos Ancient City. Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Uğur TOZKOPARAN addressed the human-nature interaction, recreational use, visitor pressure, and the effects of tourism activities on natural areas in Isparta Gölcük Nature Park. The importance of planning in nature parks within the framework of the area's conservation status, usage zones, and sustainable tourism principles was shared with the students on-site.
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Onur YAYLA discussed the geomorphological evolution of the area where Sagalassos Ancient City is located and the effects of this evolution on the city in the historical process. Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Onur YAYLA made on-site evaluations about the volcanic origin of Gölcük, the formation of the caldera lake, and the geomorphological structure in the surrounding area. In the example of Gölcük Lake, which draws attention with its volcanic crater structure approximately 150 m deep, he highlighted climate change, the sensitivity of high-altitude ecosystems, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in the management of protected areas.