How did they form? What city are they in? What are their legends? –
Fairy Chimneys, one of the most important natural beauties in the world, have been causing an influx of tourists to the Cappadocia region in recent years. Due to the young geological structure of Turkey, Fairy Chimneys can be found in many of our provinces. In this article, we are going on a geographical and historical journey to Cappadocia, the most popular of the Fairy Chimneys.
Fairy Chimneys: Sculptures of Strong Wind
The region called Cappadocia, where Fairy Chimneys emerged, a natural wonder that has been around for 60 million years and still continues, has an area covered with lakes about 12 million years ago. The eruption of many active volcanoes such as Erciyes Mountain, Güllü Mountain and Hasan Mountain 10 million years ago, in geological periods when the earth was more active than those times, paved the way for the formation of Fairy Chimneys.
It takes a little more time for it to take its current shape. That is, the lava erupting from volcanoes flows towards plateaus, lakes and streams, the boiling hot ashes cool down over time and turn into rocks called tuff, forming tuff layers. These plateaus, shaped by main volcanoes, are constantly changing with the eruption of small volcanoes.
After the lakes dry, the tuff layer rises to the surface. Over time, as a result of erosion by streams, lakes and wind, the appearance of today's fairy chimneys emerges.
Where did the hats come from?
Andesites (stones), which have a hard and thick structure and form in the land where volcano tuffs are stratified, rise to the surface of the land as a result of erosion by flood waters. The land where fairy chimneys are formed is an area with both sloping and steep slopes. Flood waters finding their way on these slopes cause hard rocks to crack and break.
While the tuff layer, which has been eroded thoroughly over time, takes the appearance of today's fairy chimney, the layer under the andesites is less eroded. Because andesites have a very hard structure, they compress the tuff underneath. As the wind erodes the tuff layers, these andesites stay higher and turn into fairy hats! This is how conical shaped bodies that are protected from wear emerge.
History of Fairy Chimneys
In ancient times, the region covering the provinces of Nevşehir, Kırşehir, Aksaray, Niğde and Kayseri was called Cappadocia. Cappadocia takes its name from the Persian word Katpatukya, which means “Land of Beautiful Horses” and has left its mark on history. Now, we call the region where fairy chimneys are located, that is, the touristic region with narrow and rocky terrain such as Uçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Ihlara, Kaymaklı, as Cappadocia.
The known history of this region dates back to the Paleolithic Age. Its written history begins with Assyrian merchants establishing colonies in Kayseri. A deep-rooted history extending from the Hittites to the Phrygians, Hellenes, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans…
How did Fairy Chimneys become a living space for people?
As people living in ancient times discovered the unique nature of Cappadocia, they realized that it was not hard rocks but could be easily processed. They have been carving the inside of these soft volcanic rocks for years, making houses, doors, windows, churches and even pigeon nests. They are building villages along the valleys.
They built the skyscrapers of the period, six-story rock-solid castles, to defend their villages. In short, they become a society. Large churches were built on these rock pillars by the Byzantines between the 9th and 12th centuries. Some columns contain not one but two churches.
So who are the natives of Cappadocia?
According to research, St. Early Christians who converted under the influence of Paul (St. Paul) retreated to the Fairy Chimneys in the Cappadocia region. Christians settled in this region 400 years after the death of Jesus Christ and lived here for a long time.
The attacks of Roman Emperors Diocletian and Julian on Christians accelerated the urbanization of this region. Because the people escaping from oppression and war constantly carve the city downwards with the help of a sharp flint; rooms, shelters, places of worship, wineries, kitchens and eventually underground cities emerge. However, we do not have clear information about other communities living in these cities. Underground settlements, which are constantly expanded due to the change of communities in the region and the increase in population, take their current form by destroying all archaeological traces of previous cultures…
The most interesting cultural wealth of Fairy Chimneys: Underground Cities
There are nearly 300 underground cities in the Cappadocia region. When the structure of these underground settlements is examined, it is understood that they were built for security purposes. Almost every house in the region is connected to underground cities through secret passages. Various traps have been set around these passages to prevent foreigners from finding them! In order to make it difficult for the enemy to use these roads, labyrinth-like tunnels are carved in both narrow, long and low structures.
Unlike the security measures in other underground cities, in Özkonak Underground City, hot oil is placed on the bolt stones to pour on the enemy; Small holes are opened for hitting with arrows and spears. As underground rooms were needed, new rooms were carved, corridors and passages increased, and thus underground cities were formed.
Kaymaklı: The underground city of nature and archeology wonder
Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most well-known underground cities, takes thousands of years to form. This city is being built in depth by easily carving the soft tuff in the volcanic land. This city, which has hosted different tribes and communities at different times, has been used as a shelter for people escaping from wars, diseases and oppression for thousands of years.
The fact that there are many food warehouses in the city brings to mind that a large population lived here. The constant temperature underground allows food to be stored without spoiling in these food warehouses. According to measurements, the temperature in these warehouses is 20 degrees Celsius both in summer and winter.
The doors of the food warehouses open to kitchens, the doors of the kitchens open to the streets, and the doors of the streets open to residences, churches and other living spaces. It is thought that a granite stone found only in Kaymaklı was previously used for grinding spices in the kitchen, but later archaeological studies revealed that this stone was used for ore enrichment.
The part of Kaymaklı Underground City open to visitors consists of only 4 floors and is thought to constitute only 5 percent of the entire city. The rest of the city is covered with centuries of stone, sand and rubble.
Legends of Fairy Chimneys: Tell and tell endlessly
According to one of the legends told by the people there based on oral tradition, the terrible giants living in the region were tall in the mountains. When they got angry at people, they would send flames from the tops of the mountains to the villages. People were careful not to anger the giants. One day, the sultan of the fairy land came to Cappadocia. The sultan, who was very upset about the situation of the people here, called all the fairies for help.
The fairies, with grains of snow and ice in their hands, attacked the places where the giants were throwing fire. Finally they managed to extinguish the fire of the mountains. Thereupon, the frightened giants fled underground and never emerged again. People settled in the caves they carved into the rocks, and the fairies settled in the hats on top of these rocks and lived together in a friendly manner.
According to another legend whispered from ear to ear, thousands of years ago, a great warrior kidnapped the daughter of the king for whom he died out of love. They hide with the girl in the Cappadocia region, that is, the valley. The king's most loyal men and his army, along with the warrior's enemies, come to the valley to find the girl. The warrior prays for a miracle and it happens. God helps the warrior and turns the army to stone. All the enemies who see this run away left and right. The shadow of the hatted soldiers who turned to stone is still in Cappadocia…