Lithology and Field Boundaries in Cappadocia, Turkey

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Kazanci N., Suludere Y.

TURKIYE JEOLOJI BULTENI-GEOLOGICAL BULLETIN OF TURKEY, vol.63, no.3, pp.373-380, 2020 (ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 63 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.25288/tjb.695327
  • Journal Name: TURKIYE JEOLOJI BULTENI-GEOLOGICAL BULLETIN OF TURKEY
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.373-380
  • Keywords: Central Cappadocia, Fairy chimneys, Boundaries of Cappadocia, Volcanic province, CENTRAL ANATOLIA, IGNIMBRITE
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

"Cappadocia" is the informal geographic name of a region in central Anatolia, which is known internationally due to its cultural and historical past, attracting attention due to well-developed fairy chimneys and tourism activities in and around the towns of Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri, Yozgat and Kirsehir. Recently, the term Cappadocia was used in the formation of a new government agency which aims to manage the utilization and protection of the region. However, there is still no consensus about the boundaries of this region which causes disagreements, as the name Cappadocia can reflect either a narrow region or cover a very large area. Here we discuss the Cappadocia region and suggest boundaries based on the distribution of volcanic rocks sourced from Nevsehir-Acigol calderas, and Erciyes and Hasandagi stratovolcanoes formed since late Neogene to Quaternary. We propose the name "central Cappadocia" for the area characterized by various erosional features including the fairy chimneys.