To investigate the characteristics of earthquake hazard parameters as a mea
ns of identifying different zones of seismicity, we have compiled a catalog
ue of about 1850 moderate to large-sized earthquakes with magnitudes m grea
ter than or equal to 4.0 or greater in southern Turkey for the time period
from 1900 to 1990. Several methods have been applied to the earthquake cata
logue to assess seismic hazard. The study area is divided into 77 overlappi
ng cells of 2 degrees size. Theoretical calculations were made for the pred
iction of maximum magnitude, intensity, b-values, strain energy release and
corresponding m(3) and peak ground acceleration levels for a given period
of time. The resultant seismic hazard for each parameter is depicted as a c
ontour map to indicate lateral variations in areas of seismic source. A com
bination and evaluation of various hazard parameters resulted in more reaso
nable estimates of hazard. It is found that the most hazardous seismic zone
s are the Rhodes and Burdur zones where the level of peak ground accelerati
on reaches up to 280 cm s(-2) for an average return period of 100 years.