Geography of Cappadocia
Location
Strabon, a writer of antiquity from Amasra, describes the borders of the Cappadocia Region, in his 17-volume book “Geographika” (Geography) written in his maturity in Rome during the reign of Emperor Augustus, as a very large area surrounded by Taurus Mountains in the south, Aksaray in the west, Malatya in the east and all the way up to the Black Sea coast in the north. Present day Cappadocia is the area covered by the city provinces of Nevsehir, Aksaray, Nigde, Kayseri and Kırşehir. The smaller rocky region of Cappadocia is the area around Uçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı and Ihlara.
Geology of the region
Volcanic activity that created Cappadocian landscape started around 10 millions years ago (Early Miocene). Several types of volcanic products (ignimbrite, ash, block and ash flows etc..) coming out of calderas and volcanoes formed several layers of tuffs (often up to 100s of meters thick) with amazing colors and textures. These rocks later eroded to plateaus and valleys that contain different types of fairy chimneys depending on the rock type and erosion style.
Contrary to the general belief Mount Erciyes (3917 m), Hasandagi and Golludag, that are very visible in the area due to their high elevations, are much younger Queternary volcanoes only couple millions years old (the day before yesterday for a geologist!) and are not the source of the tuffs (which are between 10 and 4 million years old) that created the Cappadocian landscape.
Formation of Fairy Chimneys
The interesting rock formations, known as "fairy chimneys", have been formed as the result of the erosion of tuff layers, sculpted by wind and flood water, running down on the slopes of the valleys. Water has found its way through the valleys creating cracks and ruptures in the hard rock. The softer, easily erodable material underneath has been gradually swept away receding the slopes and in this way, conical formations protected with harder tuff caps have been created.
Various types of fairy chimneys are found in Cappadocia. Among these are those with caps, cones, mushroom like forms, columns and pointed rocks. Fairy chimneys are generally found in the vicinity of Ürgüp, in the valleys of the Uchisar-Ürgüp-Avanos triangle, between Ürgüp and Şahinefendi, around the town of Çat in Nevşehir, in the Soğanlı valley in Kayseri, and in the village of Selime in Aksaray.
Fascinating Curves
Another characteristic feature of the area is the sweeping curves on the sides of the valleys, formed by rainwater. Such patterns can be seen in Uçhisar, Çavuşin/Güllüdere, Goreme, Ortahisar/Kızılçukur and Pancarlık valleys.LANDFORMS AND TROGLODYTES IN CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
Attila Çiner (co-owner of KAYADAM) Hacettepe University, Geological Engineering Department, Beytepe-Ankara, TURKEY
Situated in the middle of the Anatolian Plateau in Turkey, Cappadocia with its strange and spectacular landscape looks like another planet. The peculiar landforms called fairy chimneys, an amazing harmony of colors and shapes, troglodytic houses and underground cities makes this vast region unmatched in the world.The name “Cappadocia” comes from Persian “Katpatukya” meaning “Land of Beautiful Horses”. Since that time Cappadocia has seen the rise and fall of several civilizations. It is a land of vast plains, smooth hills, gorgeous valleys and extinct volcanoes. It is a veritable treasure of historical relics from the Christian era to the Seljuk Turks period (11th Century). The visitor may seldom travel more than a few kilometers without encountering some wonderful reminders of Cappadocia's colorful past.In recent times, Cappadocia became famous for its unique landscape of valleys and unusual rock formations, known as "fairy chimneys". The development of this strange landscape is relatively young (for a geologist!) and dates back to Miocene era (10-15 million years). It started with the volcanic eruptions that spread volcanic ash and tuff for several tens of km2. The explosions continued for several millions of years and laid down a thick tuff layer that later eroded by rain and wind into fairy chimneys that we can see today. Because the tuff is a soft rock formation ancient populations and especially the first Christians who were looking for shelter took advantage of this to make their home in and under the ground. Today, troglodytic churches and habitations are numbered in thousands in the region.With the development of the tourism in the area in the early 1970’s the inhabitants first rented their troglodytic houses and as the demand grew an explosion of troglodytic hotels is observed since the early 1990’s. Contrary to what it is unfortunately seen in other touristic regions of Turkey, Cappadocia is relatively well preserved thanks to the strict rules on restorations. Many hotels with unique architectural character often restored by few people who really appreciate the region not for what it can bring financially but as a way of life, are now open. Compared to their southern Turkey’s beach, sea and sun alternatives they can also earn much more per capita.This high demand to the troglodytic hotels unfortunately brings forth the development of a new style of hotels, restaurants and shops with often ugly restorations and decorations not always in harmony with the local style. The development of the tourism industry is expected to grow here as in the rest of the country in coming years and only a change in the mentality for a sustainable use of the troglodytes can save this unique area.