At the sight of innumerable bizarre-looking rock formations of Cappadocia hastily put visitors to the thesis, a stonemason training class could come up with hammer and chisels have tried it to form the new rock. This hypothesis is only partly correct. The results of human activity are mostly found again only in the interior of these seemingly unreal, a Unesco World Heritage Site landscape. There, people have created over a 1,000-year history of whole cities underground. The real building owner of this fascinating landscape of rock sculptures pyramids, Tufftürmen, bowling or phallus-like and mushroom-shaped pillars in the middle of Central Anatolia in Turkey, but mother nature, and which could be millions of years, considerably more time with her artwork.
Cappadocia, which includes the provinces of modern Turkey Nevsehir, Nigde, Aksaray, Kayseri and Kirsehir is of volcanic origin. Over a long period of time covered the now extinct volcanoes Erciyes and Hasan, the area with lava and Tuffasche. For this volcanic ejecta formed over the centuries in an area of 95 square kilometers of rock layers with different degrees of hardness. Wind, rain and rivers resulting ensured an erosion of softer rock, while the harder defy the forces of nature. Consequently, it came to the emergence of this unique landscape, the increasingly become a tourist attraction in the country.
You can explore the “horse country”, as the name Cappadocia is Persian, easily accessible by car or on an organized tour by coach. Especially recommended is a visit but this bizarre world on foot. Only then you will notice the rock dust on their shoe soles, that the conversion process of Cappadocia is still far from complete.
Anyone who believes in such a rocky landscape, it is impossible to create cozy homes mistaken. The soft stone of the rocks are so soft that they can be edited using simple tools. The inhabitants of Cappadocia use this extensively. As early as the Neolithic period Cappadocia was inhabited area. Initially, only caves were created later, entire cities, such as Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, extending over several floors below ground. The perfect insulation properties of the rock made for a pleasant living environment, so that the temperatures even in the harsh winters of the Anatolian Plateau around 12 ° -15 ° Celsius.
Cappadocia is especially famous for its countless churches carved in stone. Artistically painted, several meters high, sometimes decorated with Byzantine frescoes, vaulted with beautifully curved arches can marvel at the interior of the rocks. The “Dark Church”, Cappadocia is considered particularly worth seeing. But even in the Ihlara Gorge You will also find impressive churches.
A visit to this region appears almost unreal is actually required for a holiday Turkey and provides a pleasant contrast to a beach holiday in the coastal regions dar. particular, in a balloon ride over Cappadocia are you the true beauty of this landscape are aware.
