THE MYTHICAL LAND
While Istanbul is well known for magnificent man-made works,
Cappadocia is a majestic work of Mother Nature.
Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in
1985, Cappadocia attracts millions of visitors each year.
There are two airports here, one in the Northeast and
one in Northwest of Goreme, Cappadocia’s regional
capital. It takes only a little over an hour to fly from
Istanbul to Cappadocia. However, I decided to fly from
Istanbul to Ankara then took a bus from Ankara to
Cappadocia as I wanted to visit the tombs and museum
of Ataturk, the revolutionary leader credited as the
founder of modern Turkey.
volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. As the rock
below the top layer of basalt is extremely soft, it can be
easily carved. Earthquakes and continuing erosion have
contributed to form the today’s landscape. The land
has become a famous destination thanks to not only its
special geographical features but also its cultural and
historic heritage which has remained completely intact.
Before arriving in Cappadocia, I stopped at Lake Tuz
(Salt Lake) - a unique natural destination in Turkey.
Lake Tuz is not only a famous destination but also
produces many of the ingredients for making cosmetics
and around 65% of the salt consumed in Turkey.
Cappadocia is like a forgotten fairyland separated from
the modern world. The pristine beauty of the arid
plateau and peaceful way of life here are the greatest
draw to this area. The locals’ lives are rustic and simple.
Their primary occupations are farming, producing and
selling handicrafts, and providing tourism services.
Being somewhat timid, they rarely go out of their
residences, but they are very friendly and hospitable.
Lying in the central Anatolian plateau, Cappadocia is
famous for its unusual rock formations, the result of
To protect themselves from the extreme
weather (high temperatures and