FAIRY CHIMNEYS Cappadocia, in central Turkey is home to some unusual rock formations known as the &l

FAIRY CHIMNEYSCappadocia, in central Turkey is home to some unusual rock formations known as the “fairy chimneys.” The area sits on a plateau at the collision of the Afro-Arabian plate to the south and the Eurasian plate to the north. Abundant volcanic activity during the Middle Miocene to Quaternary created a vast layer of ash, andesite and basalt. The soft layers of ash were worn away due to erosion from heavy rain, melting snow, wind and large temperature fluctuations. The andesite and basalt eroded much slower, creating “caps” on the rock formations.Early inhabitants believed the formations could only have been made by fairies, which lived underground, thus the name “fairy chimneys.” Because the ash was so soft, many dwellings, churches and underground cities were carved into the landscape during the last few thousand years. It is both an archaeological and geological wonder.-AmyReferences:http://www.cappadociaexclusive.com/geological.htmlhttp://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/celynog/Cappadocia/geology.htmhttp://tinyurl.com/9wpk8n2Photo Credit: Der Wolf im Wald, Fairy Chimneys Rock Formation near Goreme, Cappadociahttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cappadocia_Chimneys_-_DWiW.jpg -- source link

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