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| MORPHOLOGICAL ASPECTS (Fig. 13,14) |
On the basis of the morphological characteristics of the region we can identify a number of broad categories, each of which can in turn be divided into subsidiary types: |
| The district of mountain ridges |
Along the northwestern boundary of the region a number of long rounded mountain ridges rise out of the plateau, running from north-west to south-east. These are ancient crystalline rocks which have been reduced by a long continuing process of erosion to their present rounded form, with gentle gradients and regular slopes. The average height is about 15001700 m. |
| The district of lakes and plains (1) |
The Salt Lake (Tuz Gl) depression, at an altitude of 900 m., is the main enclosed basin in Central Anatolia. The lake and surrounding plain occupy a large area extending south-east from Paa Da by way of Aksaray to the Melendiz Da massif. The scree slopes round the lake separate it from the undulating plateau country of the surrounding area. To the west of Aksaray the alluvial plain, mostly composed of deposits of earth and sand, slopes down from 980 m. to 900 m. (the level of the lake) over a distance of 40 kilometers. |
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The main volcanic districts (2)
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The southeastern part of the region has a girdle of volcanic cones running across it from north-east to south-west for a distance of over 250 km., with five main peaks. Erciyes Da, rising to a height of 3000 m. above the depression round Kayseri, is a large volcano of mixed polygenic structure, with concave Ranks covered with extensive lava flows. Develi Da, to the south of Erciyes Da, is a group of pyroclastic cones some 2000 m. high covered with thick beds of basalt. Melendiz Da, 100 km. south-west of Erciyes Da, consists of a group of andesitic and pyroclastic cones, much altered by hydrothermal solutions, ranging in height between 2500 and 3000 m., and overlaid with a radial system of basalt flows from a number of secondary craters. Keiboydoran Da is a westerly extension of Melendiz Da, smaller in size but of similar structure. Hasan Da, at the western end of the region, rears its conical bulk to a height of 3253 m., rounding off the chain of volcanic formations with its five principal peaks and numerous subsidiary cones. The district of the ancient plateau (3)
To the east of the Salt Lake basin is a large plateau area, at heights ranging between 1000 and 1500 m., extending for a distance of over 200 km. to the Kzlrmak valley. The great sheet of tufaceous rock, with only slight undulations, which gives the area its predominant tabular pattern, represents the phase of depositional equilibrium of the ancient plateau. In consequence of various structural movements part of the area acquired a different slope towards the Kzlrmak and there were secondary episodes of volcanic activity in the Acgl area. At this point there began the series of erosion processes, due to the action of atmospheric agencies, which produced the present morphological -differentiation. A number of sectors with common characteristics can be distinguished, taking account only of the most significant features:
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Residues of the ancient plateau (3') |
In the middle of the plateau area, where the erosive action of the mountain streams flowing down to join the main rivers has not yet made itself felt, are a number of outcrops of tabular formations, giving evidence of the height attained by the pyroclastic deposits. |
The main drainage valleys (3'') |
These are the valleys containing the main rivers, which played the principal part in the continuous remodeling of the ancient plateau. The Kzlrmak valley is the one with the widest range of morphological features, enabling us to observe the whole process of erosional activity, from its initial phases in deep narrow valleys like those of Zelve and Greme to broad open graded valleys with the characteristic isolated pinnacles known as peribacalar ("fairy chimneys") surviving as reminders of the original rock cover. |
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Fig. 13 Transvers section of the region |
A. |
Area predominantly of disintegration |
1. |
District of lakes and plains |
B. |
Area of medium erosion
(disintegration, hydraulic action and transport) |
2. |
Main volcanic districts |
C. |
Area of maximum erosion
(disintegration, hydraulic action and transport) |
3. |
District of the ancient plateau
3' Residues of the ancient plateau
3'' Main drainage valleys
3''' Areas of secondary volcanic activity
3'''' Secondary valleys |
D. |
Area predominantly of disintegration |
4. |
District of non-volcanic relief |
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Fig. 2 Map of geological regions of Cappadocia |
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Areas of non-volcanic relief |
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Ancient plateau |
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Areas of volcanic relief |
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Main drainage valleys |
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Areas of lakes and plains |
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Areas of secondary volcanic activity (3''') |
The alignment of the minor volcanic cones between ncesu, Nevehir and Ortaky corresponds to the line of the watershed between the basins of the Kzlrmak and the Melendiz Suyu. These are features of relatively low elevation, much eroded, which in some places can easily be confused with the residual outcrops of the ancient plateau, as at Acgl. |
Secondary valleys (3'''') |
Between the residual outcrops of the ancient plateau and the secondary volcanic cones, at fairly high altitudes, are a number of shallow valleys quite independent of the main hydrographic network. These are mostly closed basins eroded by rain-wash, usually occupying cavities in the rock structure, as at Derinkuyu. |
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