Cappadocia is famous for its hot air balloons, but there's another secret about this region of Turkey: Fairy chimneys. This city is purely magical, from the sky all the way to the ground, and the story behind these fairy chimneys might just be enough to make you book a trip.

The landscape has been called "surreal" and seems to go through dramatic changes with each sunset. The appearance of these stone formations has earned them their unique name and for the people of Turkey, they're nothing out of the ordinary. However, for anyone not from this area, the something 130-foot-high structures are quite striking.

So, are they home to tiny, mystical fairies that hide from the human eye? Or do they have a more natural and reasonable explanation? Let's find out.

How Were They Formed?

As with many other tall stone structures, a volcanic eruption played a key role in the formation of these towers. The entire city of Cappadocia was formed millions of years ago when activity was at its peak.

During the eruption, the ash that filled the skies eventually settled on the ground, solidifying into the fairy chimneys we see today. The composition is referred to as "tuff", and the initial base of this, combined with erosion from harder materials, helped to shape the unusual structures.

Some of the towers reach heights of 130 feet, making them something akin to natural skyscrapers dotting Cappadocia's landscape. The magic doesn't end there, though - they had plenty of uses after they were formed, and evidence of that is what gave them their nickname.

 They Were Actually Lived In, But Not By Fairies

Although the magical creatures took no part in these formations (not that we know of, anyway!), they were used for something else. During the Roman era in Turkey, these formations were soft enough to dig into.

The tuff made the fairy chimneys more useable than harder materials, and they were repurposed in rather clever ways. One of those ways was to provide shelter, which is what gave humans the chance to turn the fairy chimneys into a network of living quarters, stables, churches, caves, and even stores.

Therefore, the chimneys took on the role of a small town, providing protection from the elements and serving as sheltered gathering places for villagers. Even more amazing is the fact that these dwellings can be seen to this day, with much of the evidence of their use still prevalent. Even rooms within each chimney are identifiable based on their level of use and the visual effects of things such as cooking, which would have darkened the walls of the natural structures.

It was surmised that this network of homes had a dual purpose as well - protection was a big concern. With the ability to roll large stones in front of entrances and create an underground connection system, it was a rather clever early establishment. It's estimated that roughly 10,000 people would have been able to hide within these connected, hand-built structures. Further proof lies in the ventilation systems, which actually had the appearance of wells.

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How Can You See These Features Today?

Today, the area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourists can explore the area in one of two ways, one of which is by hot air balloon.

This gives tourists an aerial view of the entire area, while the second option is a little more up close and personal. Some of the more stable chimneys have actually been converted into "hotel" rooms, where guests can spend the night with fireplaces and take in the gorgeous view that is Cappadocia.

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