Fun Facts

Get to Know More About Cappadocia

Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s popular natural wonders famous for its hot air ballooning, rock formation and landscapes. This well-renowned place existed in the ancient district in east-central Anatolia, along the rocky plateau of current Turkey. Cappadocian land is also famous for its historical heritage, which attracts tourists across the globe.

Cappadocia took its form during the tertiary period

Cappadocia became a natural wonder due to a sequence of volcanic eruptions that happened 60 million years ago. These eruptions caused the formation of fairy chimneys and other natural landscapes.

During the volcanic eruption, ashes rained across the region. As time passed, ash became hard to transform into tuff which was later covered by basalt. After millennia passed, basalt created a mushroom-shaped cap over the pillar.

More carved churches are yet to discover

Cappadocia is famous for its rock-cut churches, which strongly connect with medieval times. There are over 600 churches, and several carved churches still need to be discovered. During the dark ages, monks carved chapels with soft Cappadocian rock.

Due to fear of the Evil eye, superstitious people carved out the eye from the paintings. Some paintings got damaged because of natural calamities like extensive erosion.

Over 500 exquisite underground cities beneath Cappadocia

There are more than 500 underground cities beneath Cappadocia in a beautiful landscape. Some underground cities extend up to eight levels into the earth. These cities are said to have all the necessary facilities for an inhabitant.

The underground cities are available for tourists at Kaymakli, Derinkuyu, Mazikoy, Ozkonak and many other places.

Cappadocia is known as the “land of the beautiful horses

The origin of the word Cappadocia comes from the Persian word Kappadokia which means “land of the beautiful horses”. According to mythology, it was a tradition for Cappadocians to present horses as tax or gifts to the Persian king.

Horses play a predominant role in the life of Cappadocians. The local people offer horses as an alternate mode of transport for visitors.