Palaeoseismological Investigations on the Karadere Segment, North Anatolian Fault Zone, Turkey

The Karadere segment of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) is the easternmost part that ruptured during the 17 August 1999 Izmit earthquake (Mw 7.4). It has a different orientation, at N65 degrees E to other segments which have a nearly E-W trend, and lesser dextral displacement, with maximum 2.3 m in contrast with 5.2 m in the ruptured neighbouring western segment. Two palaeoseismological trenches, at Kazimiye and Karadere sites, were excavated on the central part of the Karadere segment to determine the timing of past earthquakes.