The Fairy Chimneys, Turkey

Group 5
The Fairy Chimney, Turkey
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION

 Fairy chimneys, as called “Peribacalari” in Turkish,

 These are spectacular futures of the Cappadocia region,
located in the Central Anatolia,
 It has been home to many civilizations since the Bronze age,
whose influences are seen as numerous cave dwellings,
churches, monasteries, hermitages and subsurface cities
established into tuffaceous rocks in the lower of the Urgup
formation, known as Kavak tuffs, during the early Christianity
period.
 Some of these underground structures date at least 1500 years
old.
CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY
INTRODUCTION

 Is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in the Nevşehir,

Kayseri,Aksaray, and Niğde Provinces in Turkey.
 The name “Cappadocia” dates back to Persian times, when
the region was called as “katpatukya” meaning “Land of
Beautiful Horses”. Since that time Cappadocia has seen the
rise and fall of many different civilizations.
 It is a land of vast plains, rolling hills, rugged mountains and
extinct volcanoes. It is a veritable treasure of historical relics
from the Chalcolithic era to the Seljuk Turks period. The visitor
may seldom travel more then a few miles without
encountering some wonderful reminders of Cappadocia's
colorful past.
INTRODUCTION

 In recent times, Cappadocia became famous for its unique

landscape of valleys and unusual rock formations, known as
"fairy chimneys".
 The formation of this strange landscape started during the third
geological period, when three volcanoes located on the
edges of this region began erupting frequently. The deposits of
volcanoes ash, lava and basalt laid the foundations for today's
landscape. Earthquakes and ongoing effects of erosion have
contributed to form the valleys and the "fairy chimneys" that
can be seen today.
 As the rock below the top layer of basalt is extremely soft, it
can be easily carved. Communities took advantage of this to
make their home in the rock pillars and under the ground.
Today, these examples of homes, churches and whole cities
abound in Cappadocia.
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

 Thus, many historians continuously investigated the impact of these

underground structures on civilization whereas engineers studied
the engineering properties of these extraordinary materialsn for
construction material purposes.
 For example, Topal and Doyuran, investigated the material and
mass properties of the tuffs characterize engineering significance
of tuffs.
 Yilmazer investigated the engineering properties of the tuffs for
possible construction of large underground structures following
work of Erdogan.
 Topal and Doyuran also investigated geotechnical parameters of
Kavak tuff and compared the obtained values with previously
published values as well as the orientation of the major joints in the
region to determine the factors governing engineering properties.
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

 The study by Topal and Doyuran suggested that there are

large variations in reported mass and material properties of tuff
material found in the region.
 Furthermore, the authors showed that the joints developed in
background rocks control the development of the fairy
chimneys as well as their structural stability.
 Nothing the high thermal isolation of underground structures,
Unver and Agan investigated heat conductance properties of
the tuffs found in the region for food storage. The researchers
showed that the tuff found in the region is superior to any other
food storage system in terms of cost and long time durability.
 SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

 Aydan and Ulusay noted that previous studies mostly

concentrated on tuffs found in Kavak area and launched a
study both in situ and laboratory mass and material properties of
tuff found in the Cappadocia region, namely Zelve tuffs and
Urgup tuffs.
 Both laboratory and in situ test results revealed that there are
large variations both in situ and laboratory engineering
properties of tuffs found in the region.
 Furthermore Aydan and Ulusay reported that there are also no
significant variations in vertical and horizontal directions of
engineering properties of the tuffs.
DESCRIPTION

 One of the spectacular futures of the Cappadocia region is

fairy chimneys.
 Fairy chimneys are uniquely-shaped earth-pillars of natural
wonders, formed in pyroclastic deposits consisting of thick units
of tuffs, volcanic ashes and ignimbrites.
 Goreme and Urgup are the best places to observe the
development of the fairy chimneys where pyroclastic units are
the thickest.
 These pyroclastic deposits were formed during the Plio-
Pleistocene period and then subjected to considerable fluvial
and aeolian erosion leading to the formation of the fairy
chimneys.
TYPICAL FAIRY CHIMNEYS

 Figure 1 and 2 present typical fairy chimneys found in the area.

Fig. 1: Fairy chimney Fig. 2: View of the fairy

chimney in the study area
BODY PARTS OF FAIRY CHIMNEY

 The fairy chimneys, as can be seen from Fig. 1, consist of a

cap, a neck and a supporting body.
 Although extensive studies have been conducted on mass
and material properties of the tuffs found in the region; yet, no
study has been conducted on the mass and material
properties of fairy chimneys.
 This study was conducted to determine the physical and
mechanical properties of the cap, neck and body of the fairy
chimneys found in the region to distinguish the factors
affecting the development of these structures.
GEOLOGY OF THE REGION

 The most recent detailed geological studies in the

Cappadocia region were reported by Baba, Topal and
Doyuran, Temel et al., Aydan and Ulusay
 Thick and extensive deposits of the volcano-sedimentary
sequence of the Urgup formation arem found in the
Cappadocia area.
 The Urgup formation consists of a Neogene sequence
composed of tuffs, tuffite, ignimbrites, lahar, volcanic ash and
marl intercalations.
 This formation is divided into the following volcano-sedimentary
subunit members: Bayramhacili, Acidere, Kavak, Tahar,
Karadag and Kisladag members.
KAVAK AND TAHAR MEMBER

 The Kavak member is the predominant volcano-sedimentary

unit consisting of ignimbritic tuffs, lahar, tuff and pumice
fragments. Its best exposure is observed in Pasabagi, Cavusini,
Goreme and Urgup areas.
 The Kavak member is approximately 80-90 m thick in the study
area.
 The colour of the Kavak member changes from white to beige
depending on the intensity of weathering and the original
mineralogical composition.
 The bottom contact of the Kavak member is not exposed in
the study area.
 The fairy chimneys are best developed in the Kavak and Tahar
members of Urgup formation.
KAVAK AND TAHAR MEMBER

 Rock masses forming the Kavak member were welded to each

other with moderate to low welding degrees.
 Particularly, well-welded tuffs are situated in the area where
topography is the highest.
 The welded zones are flattened, often forming glassy juvenile
clasts called fiamme.
 Generally, fiammes develops within ignimbrites that
demonstrate medium or welding.
 The thickness of ignimbrites in the area ranges from 1.5 to 5 m
(used as building material for a long time).
 The low or medium grade welded ignimbrites form rounded
hills and plains. So, the studied fairy chimneys are situated in
these ignimbrites.
KAVAK AND TAHAR MEMBER

 The Tahar member is massive and does not show flow layering.
 Phenocrysts of mica are found within the pyroclastic texture.
 Fairy chimneys are observed in the south of Pasabagi within
this member.
 This member is mainly composed of pumice fragments.
 The size of the pumice fragments ranges between 1 and 10 cm
and they are found as rounded or subrounded; however,
locally angular pumice fragments can also be seen.
FAIRY CHIMNEY TYPES

 Fairy chimneys in the Cappadocia area differ in shape and

from one place to another.
 The distinct types of spectacular fairy chimneys are found in
the Kavak and Tahar members.
 In general fairy chimneys consist of a cap, a neck and a body.
Bodies of fairy chimneys in both the Kavak and Tahar members
consist of tuff, tuffite, volcanic ash, pumice, non-welded to
medium welded tuff units; however, the caps of fairy chimneys
are formed by welded tuffs in the Kavak member whereas
they are formed by lahar andesite and basalt in the Tahar
member.
KAYAK AND TAHAR MEMBER

Fairy chimney in Kavak Fairy chimney in Tahar

Member Member
GEOMORPHOLOGY

 The geomorphology of the area as well as the shape of the fairy

chimneys indicate that both physical and chemical weathering
are active in the region and these agents form different chimney
types depending on which agent and to what extend dominant in
the area.
 For example, various forms of erosion agents such as aeolian,
fluvio-atmospheric and thermoclastic produce different reactions
with rock masses depending on the lithological composition and
structural characteristics, in turn, forming uniquely shaped fairy
chimneys in the area.
 The caps of fairy chimneys are much more resistant to erosion than
their bodies and necks.
 The caps are under the effect of aeolian and thermoclastic
erosion whereas the necks are under the effects of winds and
thermoclastic erosion.
LIVING IN THE “FAIRY CHIMNEYS” OF
CAPPADOCIA
INTRODUCTION IN LIVING…

 Turkey has some of the oldest ruins of ancient civilizations —

Stone Age sites, Greek and Roman temples, historic Ephesus —
which offer sharp contrast to deluxe modern resort hotels.
 Majestic mountains loom over fertile valleys where agriculture
flourishes. Cappadocia boasts of "fairy chimneys," cave
dwellings and churches carved into the rocks, all inviting
exploration.
MYTHS ABOUT FAIRY CHIMNEY

 Dwellings dating to 4000 B.C. were hewn from the rock.

Mythology teaches that fairies once lived in the formations,
and after leaving, they returned as pigeons.
 For good luck, residents have carved niches outside their doors
to encourage pigeons to nest.
HITTITES,PERSIANS,GREEKS,etc.

 The Hittites settled here around 2000 B.C. and the word
Cappadocia, in the Hittite language, means "land of beautiful
horses," although there is no longer evidence of them here.
 The Persians conquered this area in the sixth century B.C., and
it was later occupied by Romans.
 Greeks also migrated here, followed by the Turkish peoples in
the 11th century A.D. St. Basil, the patriarch of Eastern monks,
journeyed to Cappadocia to found the first Christian
monastery.
 Later, monks and pilgrims followed; the soft tufa stone could
easily be carved into special cells for retreat and worship.
The Legend of Zelve’s Fairy Chimneys
QUESTION:

Can you
picture a group
of soldiers
searching for
the holy man?
SUMMARY

It so happens that long ago a prophet or holy man was

on the run. Soldiers were chasing him, and he was trapped
in Zelve canyon (present day Zelve Open-Air Museum).
As the soldiers were closing in, spread out around the
valley, the prophet cried out to God asking Him to either
turn the prophet into a bird so he could fly away or turn the
soldiers into rocks.
God, in His grace and mercy, decided to turn the
soldiers into rocks (apparently knowing it would help the
tourist industry of this region more than a prophetic bird),
and today visitors can see these amazing soldier-fairy
chimneys when they visit Paşabağ and Zelve.
FORMATION OF FAIRY CHIMNEYS
 The chimneys are the result of geologic processes that began
million of years, when volcanic eruptions rained ash across
what would eventually become Turkey.
 That ash hardened into tuff, a porous rock, which was covered
by a layer of basalt.
FORMATION “FAIRY CHIMNEYS”

 The strange formation named as fairy chimneys occured as

abrading of tuff layer by winds and stream of torrent that
flowed down from hills.
 Because stream of torrent found the way itself, it caused the
crack of the hard rocks and their breaking off.
 By having hollowed the substances that stood down and
could be eroded easily out, the side moved backward. So
conical shaped bodies occured which can protect itself from
being eroded with the hat on its upper part.
 Abrading of tuff layer by
winds and stream of torrent
Crack of the hard rocks and
their breaking off
 Hollowed the substances that stood
down and could be eroded easily out
 Existing mostly in Psabagi, fairy chimneys with hats have
conical shaped bodies and rock blocks on upper parts.
 Body consist of huge rocks that came into being by tuff, tuffet
and ash of a volcano.
 The hat part consist of hard rock such as lahars and ignimbrite.
In other words, rock that forms the hat is stronger than rock that
forms body.
 It is the first condition for the formation of a fairy chimney.
 Dependent upon the resistance of rock that forms the hat, fairy
chimneys cab have long life span or short one.
 Fairy chimneys with hats have conical
shaped bodies and rock blocks on upper
parts
Lahars and Ignimbrite

LAHAR IGNIMBRITE
 The types of fairy chimneys formed by erosion in Cappadocia
are one with hat, one in conical, one in mushroom shape, one
in columnand sharp rock.
 Fairy chimneys are intensively on the valleys among the
triangle of Avanos – Uchisar – Ürgüp, in the area between
Ürgüp and Şahinefendi, near the town Çat in Nevşehir, on the
walley Soganlı in Kayseri, near the village Selime in Aksaray.
 Except for fairy chimneys, strange curls formed by rain drops on
the slopes of hills give a different perspektive for the region.
 The colour harmony which can be seen on some slopes
happens because of heat differences of the lava layers. These
formations can be observed in Ürgüp, Uchisar, Cavusin,
Güllüdere, Göreme, Meskendir, Ortahisar, Kızılçukur and
pancarli.