SURFACE MORPHOLOGY and ACTIVE DEFORMATION of the YENİKÖŞK FAULT ZONE, EASTERN LAKE VAN

This study examines the morphotectonic characteristics, segment geometry, and deformation behavior of the Yeniköşk Fault within the current compressional tectonic regime by integrating digital elevation models, SWAT profiles, drone imagery, and detailed field observations. Five principal segments—Yeşilköy, Ziyaret, Kireç, Özkaynak, and Çerkezkaya—were identified along the fault trace, each displaying distinct deformation patterns. The presence of well-preserved fault scarps, fault-front depressions, and elevated local relief values, particularly within the Özkaynak and Çerkezkaya segments, indicates that the southern portions of the fault accommodate more intense and localized deformation. Topographic profiles acquired both parallel and perpendicular to the fault demonstrate uplift and block tilting associated with thrust faulting, providing evidence for sustained Holocene activity. Collectively, the results show that the Yeniköşk Fault constitutes a key structural component of the contractional regime governing the eastern Lake Van Basin and suggest that the fault possesses significant potential to generate future surface-rupturing earthquakes.