Cappadocia's Million-Year Secret | Celal Şengör Explains
Full Episode 12.03.2017

Prof. Dr. Celal Şengör and Prof. Dr. Atilla Çiner detail Cappadocia's geological history of millions of years in this comprehensive science talk; explaining everything from volcanoes to caldera eruptions, from ignimbrites to fairy chimneys, and from the uplift of the Anatolian Plateau to the formation of the Ihlara Valley and the Kızılırmak River.

At the beginning of the program, the geographical and geological borders of Cappadocia are discussed. The general structure of the region is revealed through the Tuz Gölü Fault, Niğde, Mount Hasan, Melendiz, Mount Erciyes, and the Ecemiş Fault.

Did the fairy chimneys really form from the materials erupted by Mount Erciyes and Mount Hasan?

The program explains that Mount Erciyes and Mount Hasan are relatively younger volcanoes, only a few million years old, while the ignimbrite and tuff layers where Cappadocia's characteristic fairy chimneys developed date back to much older periods.

While explaining the uplift of Anatolia through plate tectonics and mantle processes, Celal Şengör also draws connections to a similar geological mechanism in the Colorado Plateau in North America.

How fast does a fairy chimney that loses its cap erode?
Are new fairy chimneys still forming today?
Will Cappadocia's current appearance change completely in the future?

A comprehensive science talk for those who want to learn about the million-year formation of Cappadocia holistically through geology, volcanology, climate, archaeology, and history.

00:00 The unknown story of Cappadocia
04:10 Where are the geological borders of Cappadocia?
06:40 Did Erciyes create the fairy chimneys?
09:45 The story of Turkey's three important geologists
14:56 Why is the Anatolian Plateau rising?
18:25 The similarity between the Colorado Plateau and Anatolia
26:25 Young and old volcanoes in Cappadocia
28:55 What are ignimbrite, tuff, and volcanic eruption?
33:10 Yellowstone and massive caldera eruptions
34:40 The giant eruptions that formed Cappadocia
35:35 Kavak and Zelve ignimbrites
39:40 Why does the same volcano produce different rocks?
44:55 Cappadocia's million-year-old layers
49:40 Cemilköy and Kızılkaya eruptions
58:40 Giant volcanism in Siberia
01:06:00 The geology of the Erciyes Volcano
01:08:20 Glaciers and young lavas on Erciyes
01:10:30 Why was Erciyes depicted as the "horned mountain"?
01:15:40 10,000-year-old lava flows on Erciyes
01:19:50 The two horns of Mount Hasan
01:21:00 Çatalhöyük, the bull cult, and the volcano connection
01:22:50 Young volcanic structures in Cappadocia
01:27:20 How were the valleys of Cappadocia formed?
01:29:35 How did the Ihlara Valley come to be?
01:31:00 How did the Kızılırmak shape Cappadocia?
01:31:45 What do river terraces tell us?
01:37:40 Is the Anatolian Plateau still rising today?
01:38:35 Introduction to fairy chimneys
01:40:20 Paşabağ and different types of fairy chimneys
01:41:35 Ürgüp's famous three fairy chimneys
01:42:00 Where does the name "fairy chimney" come from?
01:43:45 How exactly do fairy chimneys form?
01:46:30 How do the caps protect the fairy chimneys?
01:49:00 What happens to a fairy chimney when its cap falls off?
01:52:00 Are new fairy chimneys still forming today?
01:58:15 Fairy chimneys in other parts of the world
02:03:20 Narman Fairy Chimneys and Bryce Canyon
02:08:25 Zion and similar formations in America
02:12:05 Why is science permanent?
02:14:10 Where does the name Cappadocia come from?
02:14:50 "Earth pyramids" formed by glaciers
02:18:20 How was the Matterhorn formed?
02:21:45 The first settlements in Cappadocia
02:23:00 Why was obsidian so important?
02:25:00 The underground cities of Cappadocia
02:26:50 Pigeon houses, viticulture, and rock storages
02:29:20 The risk of rockfall in Cappadocia
02:30:00 Erionite mineral and cancer risk
02:31:25 Cappadocia: From rock houses to tourism
02:33:20 Why does Cappadocia look different from a hot air balloon?
02:37:25 Christian settlements in Cappadocia
02:40:00 Saint Basil and monastery culture
02:42:40 Why is Saint Barbara the patron saint of geologists?
02:45:50 Tokalı and Dark Church
02:48:00 The Seljuks and Cappadocia
02:50:25 The Yellowstone supervolcano
02:50:50 Toba, Yellowstone, and giant calderas
02:54:55 Is volcanism still active in the world?
02:56:00 Active volcanoes in Turkey
03:00:05 Is it water or wind that shapes the fairy chimneys?
03:01:40 Can rockfalls be predicted?
03:03:25 Earthquake risk in Cappadocia
03:05:30 Final thoughts on science and geology
03:09:30 Closing of the program

For more science content on the geology of Cappadocia, the formation of fairy chimneys, volcanoes in Turkey, and Anatolia's million-year story, don't forget to like the video, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to the channel.

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