Kula Geo-Park and Fairy Chimneys

Kula Geo-Park and Fairy Chimneys

Kula is a region in Turkey that is home to some of the youngest volcanoes in the area. When these volcanoes were active, they left behind volcanic ash and lava, which shaped the landscape of the region. As a result, many areas around Kula are covered in blackened fields, giving the region the nickname "Burnt Country".

Kula Geo-Park and Fairy Chimneys

Kula is also home to Turkey's first UNESCO-recognized geopark, which has become a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

The town of Kula boasts more than 80 volcanic cones, fairy chimneys, karstic caves, canyons, rock tombs, and rock bridges. In 2013, the Kula Volcanic Geopark was recognized as one of the most prestigious geoparks at the 12th International European Geopark Conference held in Italy.

The fairy chimneys in Kula Geopark are the result of three main factors: surface water erosion, splash erosion, and tunnel erosion (piping). The chimney-like formations are typically capped with hard cemented sandstones or basalt boulders and are often found on top of soft underlying permeable sandy-clay lacustrine Miocene sediments.