Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys

Surreal volcanic rock spires carved by wind and water/Natural Wonders

The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia in central Turkey are tall, cone-shaped rock formations created by millions of years of erosion acting on volcanic tuff deposited by ancient eruptions. The soft tuff eroded faster than the harder basalt caps on top, producing mushroom-like pillars ranging from a few meters to over 40 meters in height. People have carved homes, churches, and entire underground cities into the soft rock since at least the Bronze Age. The Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases Byzantine-era cave churches with vivid frescoes dating to the 10th through 13th centuries.