Cappadocia

Cappadocia is the name of an area in modern-day Turkey. It is characterized by an extremely interesting landscape of volcanic origin, underground cities created in the 1st millennium BC and extensive cave monasteries that trace their history back to the time of the early Christians. Göreme National Park and the cave settlements of Cappadocia are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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It is believed that the original name of the area was given by the Hittites, “Katpatuka” meaning “Land of Beautiful Horses”. However, linguistic research stubbornly reminds us that in the 2,000 BC, belief in the goddess Kuta Khepat (Sacred Khepat) was widespread in the area, and this fact may well be the basis, transformed in the Hellenic language into “Cappadocia”, meaning “Land/people of the Sacred Khepat.”

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Video: Cappadocia

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The Cappadocia Phenomenon

The phenomenon of Cappadocia is that it is not a creation of human hands, but unique natural formations. As a result of geologic catavasses and the uplift of mountain ranges in the south more than 60 million years ago, an active volcanic chain formed in the area, ejecting incredible amounts of ash and lava, which were systematically deposited in layers. The terrain rose 200 meters, and over the years the ash turned into tuff, the lava into basalt. Under the action of wind, rains, temperature differences, erosion of the tuff, seemingly monumental from the outside, but soft and unstable, took place. After millennia, this unreal surrealistic picture comes to light: inconceivable canyons, “fairy pipes”, bizarre figures and “mushrooms” – everything here resembles fairy tale heroes or mythical monsters, and it is absolutely impossible to believe that it was created by nature itself. Unfortunately, what created this fantastic area will destroy it – erosion is still going on, which means that one day all this beauty will disappear…

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