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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Page added in August 2008.
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 - Cappadocia - Uçhisar
(Sultanhan)
Uçhisar means "third castle", but because in Turkish uçus means flight and uçmak means to fly,
one could think that "flying castle" would be a more appropriate name for this rock which stands above Goreme and can be seen from a very long distance.
Uchisar and one of the paths leading to Goreme
While the erosion process which occurs at the edge of the tableland is easily understandable,
that which led to the formation of Uchisar is not. It is difficult to understand why volcanic eruptions accumulated so much ash at this location.
Uchisar (morning view)
Uchisar is located in a dominant position on the southern edge of the valley leading to Goreme. The
inhabitants were relocated some decades ago from their rock-cut homes to new houses. Authorities have not allowed the construction of exceedingly large buildings.
Uchisar (afternoon view)
The way the rock has been carved out is simply unbelievable; inside the main peak there is a covered road leading to its top: it was the village high street.
Uchisar: (left) the two peaks; (right) a "fairy chimney" seen from the top of the main peak
Occasionally the block of basalt which limits the erosion of the underlying tuff holds its position even though physics laws would expect it to fall.
These pinnacles with a sort of Basque cap are called fairy chimneys.
View of one of the paths (valleys) leading to Goreme
Uchisar is an excellent starting point for going down to Goreme along one of many paths (locally called valleys; as you may expect there is a Love Valley).
Love Valley
High poplars and tiny carefully farmed fields flank the paths. The shape of the rocks follows a generic scheme but with many variations.
Cones, pyramids, towers, obelisks and ... you name it
Other locations in Cappadocia:
Goreme
Cavusin, Avanos and Urgup
Ihlara Valley
Move to:
Introductory page
Konya
Karaman
Mut and Alahan
On the Way to Nigde
Nigde
Kayseri
Sivas
Divrigi
Map of Turkey with all the locations covered in this website
SEE THESE OTHER EXHIBITIONS (for a full list see my detailed index).
  
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