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The
interesting rock formations, known as "fairy chimneys", have been formed
as the result of the erosion of this tufa layer, 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
basalt caps have been created.
The fairy chimneys with caps, mainly found in the vicinity of Urgup, have
a conical shaped body and a boulder on top of it. The cone is constructed
from tufa and volcanic ash, while the cap is of hard, more resistant rock
such as lahar or ignimbrite. 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 valleys of the Uchisar- Ürgüp-Avanos
triangle, between Urgup and Sahinefendi, around the town of Cat in Nevsehir,
in the Sogani valley in Kayseri, and in the village of Selime in Aksaray.
VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS AND GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
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