Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2022
  4. May 09
  5. View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey

May 09, 2022

View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey

© Anton Petrus/Getty Image

Living rock. Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Both natural wonders and historic landmarks, the 'fairy chimneys' of Göreme may suggest the fantastical dwellings of an alien species, or an illustration from a Dr. Seuss book. These and similar rock formations are known by many names—hoodoos, tent rocks, earth pyramids, as well as fairy chimneys—and are typically found in dry, hot areas. Here in Cappadocia, in south-central Turkey, they were formed when a thick layer of volcanic ash solidified over millions of years into soft, porous rock called tuff that was overlaid by hard basalt. Cracks in the basalt allowed wind and rain to gradually wash away the softer bottom layer, leaving the hard basalt to cap tall columns of the tuff. The result is these unusual, often beautiful—and perhaps puzzling—formations that spread across the Anatolian plain.

This part of modern-day Turkey has been inhabited since at least the Hittite era, between 1800 and 1200 BCE, and possibly for much longer. Innumerable ancient empires fought over the region, with Hittites, Assyrians, Neo-Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans each laying claim to Anatolia at times. To escape this dangerous world, the locals learned to burrow into the hillsides for protection. Today, a visitor can see the vast, complex, interconnected caves in which societies thrived and sheltered for millennia. Göreme National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 and is now a popular tourist destination.

outdoor nature sky building landscape city sunset house mountain canyon cloud text dusk

Related Images

Milky Way above the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, South Tyrol, ItalyMilky Way above the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, South Tyrol, Italy
Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CaliforniaWildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Blooming wild garlic, Hainich National Park, GermanyBlooming wild garlic, Hainich National Park, Germany
Lenticular clouds, PatagoniaLenticular clouds, Patagonia
Lake Powell on the Colorado RiverLake Powell on the Colorado River
Ballyvooney Cove, Copper Coast Geopark, County Waterford, IrelandBallyvooney Cove, Copper Coast Geopark, County Waterford, Ireland
Agüero, SpainAgüero, Spain
Rainbow over Waimea Canyon and Waipo'o Falls, Kauai, HawaiiRainbow over Waimea Canyon and Waipo'o Falls, Kauai, Hawaii

Today on Bing

Sea otter mother and newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

Sea otter mother and newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

May 09, 2021
Barn owl sitting on a branch

Barn owl sitting on a branch

May 09, 2020
Zebras in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Zebras in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

May 09, 2019
Long-tailed widowbird male, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa

Long-tailed widowbird male, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa

May 09, 2018
A female wood duck and ducklings in Arapahoe County, Colorado

A female wood duck and ducklings in Arapahoe County, Colorado

May 09, 2017

Related Tags

nature landscape outdoor mountain cloud sky hillside grass surrounded canyon rock water flower plant overlooking highland clouds valley lake desert
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 6692x3764
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.