Cappadocia About
Cappadocia is an area in Central Anatolia in Turkey best known for its unique moon-like landscape,
underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks.
The Cappadocian Region located in the center of the Anatolian Peninsula, with
its valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formation created as a result of the
eroding rains and winds of thousands of years of the level, lava-covered plain
located between the volcanic mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan as well as
its troglodyte dwellings carved out of the rock and cities dug out into
underground, presents an otherworldly appearance. The eruptions of these
mountains which were active volcanoes in geological times lasted until 2 million
years ago. A soft tuff layer was formed, 150 m in thickness, by the issuing
lavas in the valley surrounded by mountains. The rivers, flood water running
down the hillsides of valleys and strong winds eroded the geological formations
consisting of tuff on the plateau formed with tuff layers, thus creating bizarre
shapes called fairy Chimneys. These take on the names of mushroom shaped,
pinnacled, capped and conic shaped formations. The prehistoric settlements of
the area are Koskhoyuk (Kosk Mound) in Nigde, Aksaray Asikli Mound, Nevsehir
Civelek cave and, in the southeast, Kultepe, Kanis and Alisar in the environs of
Kayseri. This area with unusual topographic characteristics was regarded as
sacred and called, in the Scythian/khatti language, as "Khepatukha" meaning "the
Country of the People of the Chief God Hepat" The tablets called Cappadocian
Tablets and the Hittite works of art in Alisar are of the important remains
dating from 2000s B.C. After 1200s B.C., the Tabal principality, of the Khatti
Branches of Scythians, became strong and founded the Kingdom of Tabal. Following
the Late Hittite and Persian aras, the Cappadocian Kingdom was established in
332 B.C. During the Roman era the area served as a shelter for the early
escaping Christians.
There are also several underground cities used by early Christians as
hideouts in Cappadoc
: are one of the most popular
activities in Goreme. Typically lifting off at sunrise, these rides last around
45 minutes and literally go wherever the wind may blow in the Cappadocia Valley.
The balloon carriages hold around ten people with the pilot riding air currents
much like a boat, floating down the valleys, often below the ridge line and
quite close to the chimney rocks. It's a fantastic ride and if you've ever had
the urge to splurge on a balloon ride, this would be the place to do it.
Operators include
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