|
Kizlar Monastary
|
Images of Turkey
Images & Text © Jay
J. Pulli, 1985-1998
Page 1: Cappadocia & Central Anatolia
Cappadocia is located in the Goreme Valley region central Turkey, southeast of the
capital of Ankara. It is a geologically active region with numerous old volcanoes
and fault systems. About 30 million years ago, these volcanoes erupted, filling the
area with ash, which gradually turns into a soft stone known as tuft. Later, faulting
and earthquakes started the erosional processes which lead to the wearing away of
the tuft into sculpted rock formations. As you approach the area, you are stricken
by the sight of geology, and other than a few modern small cities, you would suspect
that no one lives here. This made it a great hiding place for early Christians in
the Byzantine Era. Escaping persecution, they found the formations an ideal hiding
place, and were able to carve out immense underground cities and churches in the
tuft.
|
