The lowlands of the Aegean and Marmara Regions contain about half of the country's agricultural wealth in the broad, cultivated valleys, the most important of which are the Izmit Valley, the Bursa Plains and the Plains of Troy. The Mediterranean Region is located in the south of Anatolia. The western and central Taurus Mountains suddenly rise up behind the coastline. Forest lands are dominant here like the Aegean and the Black Sea regions. The Central Anatolia Region is exactly in the middle of Turkey and is less mountainous when compared to the other regions.
Steppes are common.
Geologically young volcanic features characterize the landscape. For the most part, the region is bare and monotonous and is used for grazing. But overgrazing has caused soil erosion on the plateau and during frequent summer dust storms a fine yellow powder blows across the plains. The Eastern Anatolia Region is Anatolia's largest and highest region. Anatolia's highest peak Mount Ararat is located in this region.