Amasya lies in the transitional belt between the coastal mountains of the Black Sea and Central Anatolia. Its climate therefore combines features of both regions, while the Yeşilırmak valley in which the city stands enjoys a milder microclimate than its surroundings. The province descends in steps from the 2,061-metre summit of Akdağ to the valley floor at Taşova, 160 metres above sea level, so that mountains, plains and narrow canyons follow one another over short distances. Branches of the North Anatolian Fault also cross this ground and have shaped the province's history of earthquakes.
Water and soil form the backbone of the section. The Hydrology of the Yeşilırmak, The Çekerek River, The Kelkit Stream and the Taşova Reach and The Tersakan Stream and the Suluova Basin describe the river network of the province. The Plains of Amasya and Their Agricultural Geography and The Soils of Amasya deal with the Geldingen, Suluova, Merzifon and Gümüş plains watered by these rivers, while The Geology of Amasya, Mines and Underground Resources of Amasya and The North Anatolian Fault and the Earthquake Geography of Amasya examine what lies beneath the surface.
Natural sites and vegetation are also treated in detail. Lake Boraboy, formed by a landslide, the Derinöz and Kız Kayası canyons, the uplands of İnegöl, Akdağ, Borabay and Sarıçiçek, and the hot springs of Hamamözü, Terziköy and Gözlek each have their own article. Forests and Endemic Plants of Amasya covers the more than one hundred endemic species of the province, and The Misket Apple of Amasya the valley's best-known produce. Articles on population, transport and the economy show how this natural setting has shaped patterns of settlement and livelihood.