As a result of the research conducted in Cappadocia, one of the important centers of tourism in Turkey, 19 calderas were identified in the region. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVÜ) Vice Rector and Director of Cappadocia Geological Heritage and Rock Carved Structures Application and Research Center, Prof. Dr. Mutluhan Akın, who conducted these researches, stated that in addition to volcanic peaks, calderas formed after volcanic eruptions were also encountered in Cappadocia.
Akın stated that 19 calderas were identified in the region, but there may be more and some may have lost their clarity over time. In the examinations, it was observed that the formation ages of fairy chimneys, natural rocks and volcanic vents were close to each other.
Akın stated that many scientists from home and abroad have been working on geological layers and rocks in the region from past to present and that these studies will shed light on the past of Cappadocia, and emphasized that the information given to tourist guides is important for regional tourism.
“Cappadocia is not the product of Erciyes, Hasan Dağı and Melendiz”
Stating that they continued to announce studies such as determining the ages of rocks and volcanic formations in the region with the declaration of NEVÜ as a specialized university in the field of “Natural and Cultural Heritage Tourism”, Prof. Dr. Mutluhan Akın argued that the rocks in Cappadocia are pyroclastic rocks and are not the product of Erciyes, Hasan Dağı and Melendiz.
Akın stated that volcanic materials petrify to form soft rocks and that the rocks forming the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia are between 5 and 9 million years old. He stated that this situation shows that the volcanic rocks in Cappadocia come from their own volcanic outlets.
Locals Expect Calderas to Be Opened to Tourism
Nevşehir Tourist Guides Chamber President Özan Onur stated that they will inform their members about the volcanic peaks and calderas in the region and provide information about special tours planned to be introduced to tourism. Locals Hüseyin Özdemir and Attila Çataltepe stated that introducing the calderas to tourism will be an important opportunity for the region and will contribute to the promotion of the region.
