Fairy Chimneys: Cappadocia, Turkey
The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia are towering, cone-shaped rock
formations that have become a symbol of Turkey. These otherworldly
structures were created by millions of years of erosion. Volcanic
eruptions blanketed the area with ash, which hardened into soft rock
called tuff.
The Cappadocia region in Turkey is renowned for its unique and breathtaking landscape, dominated by fairy chimneys. These tall, cone-shaped rock formations, also known as hoodoos or "peribacaları" in Turkish, are the result of millions of years of geological processes.
The name “Cappadocia” dates back to Persian times, when the region was called as “katpatukya” meaning “Land of Beautiful Horses”. Since that time Cappadocia has seen the rise and fall of many different civilizations. It is a land of vast plains, rolling hills, rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes. It is a veritable treasure of historical relics from the Chalcolithic era to the Seljuk Turks period. The visitor may seldom travel more then a few miles without encountering some wonderful reminders of Cappadocia's colorful past.
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| Fairy Chimneys |
The deposits of volcanoes ash, lava and basalt laid the foundations for today's landscape. Earthquakes and ongoing effects of erosion have contributed to form the valleys and the "fairy chimneys" that can be seen today.
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| fairy chimneys |
As the rock below the top layer of basalt is extremely soft, it can be easily carved. Communities took advantage of this to make their home in the rock pillars and under the ground. Today, these examples of homes, churches and whole cities abound in Cappadocia.
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| A panorama view of Aktepe Hill, Mountain north-east of Göreme in Cappadocia in Central Turkey. |
Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Formation
The surrealistic geological formation of Cappadocia is one of the wonders of the world. It is the result of the natural forces during the intense volcanic activity.
In addition to the European Alps, the Taurus Mountains of southern Anatolia were formed during the Tertiary period of geological development (65 million to 2 million years ago). During the "Alpine period" of mountain-building, deep fissures and large depressed areas were created. The fracturing process allowed the subsurface magma (rocks in their molten state) to find its way to the surface where it formed the Erciyes, Develi, Melendiz, Kegiboydoran, and Hasan Dag cones.
After numerous eruptions these cones increased in size and formed a chain of volcanoes running parallel to the Taurus Mountains. Also the volcanic material slowly ran towards the depressed areas and covered the previously formed hills and valleys. This geological activity changed the general landscape of the region, giving it the appearance of a plateau.
Wind, climate, mechanical weathering, rain, snow, and rivers caused the erosion giving to Cappadocia its unusual and characteristic rock formations. The Cappadocian climate, with sharp changes of temperature, heavy rains, and melting snow in the spring, plays an important role in the formation of the Cappadocian landscape.
In addition, mechanical weathering is responsible for fragmentation because rocks expand when heated and break up as they cool. Frozen water in the cracks can also cause fragmentation. However, the most important sources of erosion are rain and rivers.
Heavy rainfall transformed the smooth surface of the plateau into a complex pattern of gullies that followed preexisting fissures in the rocks. Eroded materials were then removed by the rivers. Sometime streams and rivers made very sharp vertical cuts into the volcanic soil and created isolated pinnacles at the intersection of two or more gullies. Rain and rivers also formed valleys such as Zelve and Goreme.
Description of the Fairy Chimneys
Mushroom shaped: The most distinctive feature is their cap. A layer of harder volcanic rock sits on top, protecting the softer rock below from erosion. This hard rock cap creates a mushroom-like shape.
Size variations: They come in all sizes! Some are just as tall as a person, while others can stretch up to 40 meters (over 130 feet) tall.
Colors: The rock itself can range from light beiges to warm browns. The landscape, especially at sunrise or sunset, can take on a reddish or purplish hue.
