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The volcanic eruption of
Hasandagi led to tectonic
movements that left the
surface of the region
covered with a layer of
volcanic rock. The same
volcanic activity led to
pressure and heat being put
upon the limestone causing
it to crack and create
naturally spouting springs
of hot water, these can be
seen at the Ziga Springs
between Ihlara and
Yaprakhisar. The structural
characteristics of the
region due to volcanic
eruption produced tufa
outcrops which were moulded
by wind, erosion and other
natural phenomena and
created the strange and
colorful Fairy Chimneys that
are also encountered at
Selime and Yaprakhisar. The
tectonic movoments produced
tufa rock that in some
places is soft and in others
is coloured grey, green and
brown. Huge areas of
crumbling rock completely
covered the area in its
debris. The Ihlara valley
alogside the melendiz River
is a result of this
disintegration that created
a canyon with a deep base.
The fast flowing river is in
places between 100 and 200 m
deep and it divides the
valley into two; it
continues towards
Aksaray with the name
Ulunmak until reaches Tuz
Golu (Salt Lake).
Aksaray Province of
Cappadocia region was an
important religious centre
in Christianity's very
earliest days. Founders of
orders like Basilof kayseri
and Greegory of Nazianos
lived here in the 4th
century. A different set of
monastic rules than the
system used in Egypt ad
Syria was determined here.
Although the monks in Egypt
and Syria cut themselves off
from relationships with the
wordly things the monks
under Basil and Gregory did
not. The birthplace for this
concept was Belisirma.
Gregory, offering a new
explanation for the Holy
Trinity, brought about a
debate concering the
divinity of Christ. His
ideas prevailed at the
Council of Iznik. Thus an
innovator became a saint for
the the rock region of
Belisirma, Ihlara and
Gelveri where Gregory lived.
With the defensive castles
of Mount Hasan providing
defence against Arab
invasions the churces were
able to continue in peaceful
worship.
The Ihlara Valley has
protected these rock-cut
dwellings ad churhes with
frescoes and they come down
to us a unique historical
treasury. These frescoed
churches and dwellings
easily carved into rock from
the early years of
Christianity are scattered
all along the way from
Ihlara to
Selime
through the Ihlara valley.
Ihlara valley has been
formed at an approximate
depth of 150 due that the
erosion made by Melendiz
river coming from the
mountains of Melendiz to the
volcanic rocks. Due that the
richness of the watering
possibility and its hidden
form and easily to hide
structure it was the first
settlement place of the
first Christians escaping
from the Roman soldiers In
the Ihlara Valley there are
hundreds of antic churches
caved in the volcanic rocks.
The most known
Ihlara valley churches
are Agacalti Church with
cross plan, Sümbüllü Church,
Pürenliseki Church, Kokar
Church, Yilanli Church,
Karagedik Church,
Kirkdamatli Church, Direkli
Church, Ala Church, Kemerli
Church and Egritas Church.
How
can you go:
You can go to Ihlara valley
from
Aksaray province 40 km.
Aksaray is 674 km. far
from
Istanbul, 225 km. from
Ankara, 693 km. from
Izmir. |
