European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse S the conical towers create a science fiction scene in the arid Countryside turkeys t Story and photos l. Emmett Lewis r. The strangely shaped towers of Rock at Cappadocia Turkey provide a View like the bizarre landscape of a Tolkien fantasy. Appearing to grow out of the arid ground of Central Anatolia the Quot fairy chimneys Quot Are products of thousands of years of erosion by wind and water Here and there the Rock chimneys Are topped by tenuously balanced Rock Caps a phenomenon of differing rates of erosion for the varied strata of Rock. An everyday part of the life of local turks As they go about their harvesting of grapes some Rock towers serve As Homes for a few troglodyte residents of the Region. In one Small town television aerials sprout incongruously out of Rock Cones peppered with Small windows and doors. The soft Rock has been hollowed out by generations of residents including Early christians seeking Refuge from oppressive rulers and invading moslem. In areas such As the Gore me Valley Small chapels and Rock churches have been carved out of Stone and Are decorated with ancient Christian frescoes dating Back to the fifth Century. The Caranlik Kilisek dark Church yields its hidden frescoes of the nativity and the Wise men Only to visitors Wise enough to bring flashlights. Sadly much of the Region s artwork while comparatively Safe from weather falling victim to mutilation by vandals. 1 Over the centuries some of the formations have been hollowed out and used for living quarters. 10 stripes Magazine july 26, 1990
