The fantastical "fairy chimneys" found in central Turkey"s historical Cappadocia region were formed by a collision of the natural and the man-made—and they form a scene that seems straight out of a Dr. Seuss illustration. The landforms were created when volcanoes deposited mounds of soft, porous rock called tuff, which was later covered with hard basalt. In the 10th century (though possibly starting up to 5,000 years ago) humans excavated the tuff to create caves and catacombs that could fit thousands of dwellers. Through not only the astonishing ruins but the many "cave hotels" hewn into rock in the city of Göreme, the memory of those ingenious city planners lives on.
And to think that I saw it in Cappadocia
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington
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Pride Month
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First day of National Park Week
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Darwin Day
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Chilling out in the Arctic
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Patriot Day
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National Park Service Founders Day
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Desert rose of Qatar
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Celebrating Flag Day
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Maya site of Copán
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A circular celebration
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Prague, Czech Republic
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A hidden jewel in Croatia
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Pi Day
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Cannes, France, in the spotlight
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Work out on your way to work
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East River crossing
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The buzz about bees
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Taughannock Falls State Park
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Tulips, Netherlands
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Manatees rebound
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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
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Gazing upon Portraits of Change
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Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico
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The ruins of a Maya superpower
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A hero for the 21st century
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Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Feeling chic on Fashion Week
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

