Boundaries of the Province and Transportation
The city is 1033 m above sea level and its surface area is 9,393 km2. Karaman is located in 36 28 and 370 32 northern parallels, and in 32 32 to 34 07 east longitudes. The northern part of the city is plain, the southern part of the city is mountainous and hilly. umra is in northwest, Karapınar and Ereğli is in north, Halkapınar is in northeast, central district of Mersin is in east, Erdemli, Buca, Mut, Gülnar, Bozyazı and Anamur district of Mersin are in south, Alanya and Gazipasa Antalya are in southwest, Taşkent and Bozkır districts are in west of (ahiner, 2012:34). There are six district of the province of Karaman. These are the Centrum, Başyayla, Ermenek, Kazımkarabekir and Sarıveliler.
Karaman is at the crossroads of the transportation web of Turkey and considered to be the logistics center between Central Anatolia and Mediterranean Sea. The city, having one of the most developed rail transport networks of central Turkey, will be a logistics hub as the stanbul High Speed Train Railway Project along with Mersin, Adana, Karaman, Konya, Ankara, Eskişehir and Karaman-Antalya and Karaman-Mersin road projects come to an end. Also the city is only one hour distance to Konya Public Airport . Karaman is two hours away from the largest port of Turkey, Mersin International Port, which has 15 million tons of cargo handled every year, providing a unique opportunity to reach to the world market with low transportation and raw material costs. Thanks to its modern highway network, Karaman has a cost advantage in raw material procurement and product distribution. Its convenient location allows companies to reach 5 million people in 2 hours and 20 million people in 4 hours.
Climate and Vegetation
Karaman has a typical continental climate. Winters are cold and harsh, the summers are hot and rainless. Continental climate prevails in the high highlands mountain areas. Characteristics of the Mediterranean climate is seen through the plain areas that Goksu Stream passes. The temperature in winter decreases to -17 C. The average temperature is 30 C during the summer months. Annual average rainfall varies from 300 to 450 mm. City lands typical climate is steppe because of the area that remains in the steppe vegetation. In mountainous regions there are forests occured from trees and shrubs. Forests are covered with oak, juniper, larch, pine, ash and acacia trees.
Mountains
Most of the Karaman lands are covered with vast lowlands. The south of the province is mountainous. Toros Mountains extend from west to east. It is 1014 meters above sea level. The highest point Karadağ in Nortwest is 2288 meters. Karadağ is a dormant volcanic volcano. Yunt Mountain (2,227 m), Oyuklu Mountain (2,427 m), Ozyurt Mountain (2481 m) and Kartaltepe (2,226 m) are important mountains.
Lowlands
Karaman is built on the vast lowlands. Karaman Lowland is 20 km wide and 30 km long. Ayrancı Lowland is between Eregli Lowland and Karaman Lowland and at the bottom of Kocadere Valley. Streams Arising from high mountains by forming deep valleys irrigate these lowlands. The town Ermenek is surrounded by high highlands.
Plateaus
Ermenek, Başyayla and Sarveliler towns are located in the south and on magnificient medium Toros mpuntains. The two main branches of Goksu River which are in this region by joining with Middle Toros mountains and make up steep and deep cliffed Taşeli (Klikya) plateau. There are Balkusan, Altintas, Kams and Tekecat there are plateaus. Especially Balkusan plateau is apicultural. Honey is famous. Honey obtained from the pyrethrum calba is the best honey in Taseli Plateau.
Lakes
Akgöl has 2 m depth which is in the Ayranci District. The lake is a natural bird sanctuary and has about 300 species of birds. Acıgöl which is located in Suleyman Haci Village is a closed basin with 4 m depth. Gödet, Ayrancı, Deliay, Ibrala, Ermenek barrage and Dokuzyol lagoon, Sarveliler lagoon are barrages used for irrigation .
Streams
There is no large stream in the province of Karaman. Göksu runlet is the largest stream. This stream which Passes through Taseli highland, fed by the Geyik Mountains water and pours into the Mediterranean and its arms named Hadim and Ermenek passes thorugh Karaman, united in the district of Mersin Mut. By Descending from the high mountains, they make up deep valleys. brala Rivulet, rises from the northern slopes of the Taurus Mountains and by flowing Suduna, Beydilli, Aksehir paths poures into the Akgöl swamp.