Many Cappadocian valleys boast collections of strange volcanic cones, but the ones near Aktepe in northern Cappadocia, known as the Valley of the Fairy Chimneys, are the best-formed and most thickly clustered. While geologists might congregate to appreciate the effects of differential erosion, everyone else just likes their other-worldly appeal.
Most of the rosy rock cones are topped by flattish, darker stones of harder rock that sheltered the cones from the rain that eroded all the surrounding rock. This process is known to geologists as differential erosion but you can just call it kooky.
This is a place to let your mind run free in a seemingly lunar landscape with rock formations that look like animals.
The Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, has none of the cave churches, Byzantine frescoes or Roman citadel ruins that are famous throughout the rest of Cappadocia; but what it does have is an extraordinary landscape shaped by nature to make you laugh and wonder and explore.
Only a 10 minute drive from Goreme, between Avanos and Urgup, the valley is like a rock-formed zoo. Walk the trail and you’ll see a landscape filled with snakes, camels, seals and dolphins and whatever else your mind chooses to make of the twisting curving rocks. Maybe even a dragon. There are also small fairy chimneys, the rock pillars so distinctive of Cappadocia.
The Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley or Pink Valley. Only a 10 minute drive from Goreme, between Avanos and Urgup. There are interesting rock formations. It’s an area where the terrain can create unusual works of nature, all stones have strange shapes. These are fantasy items as you can do imagine, wonder and explore. Love it!
Dervent Valley is different from others in the areas, because it does not have the rock churches that are in abundance in places like Ihlara valley.
Instead it is more famous for the land which resembles a lunar landscape. Situated a short drive from Goreme, the valley still has the characteristics of the fairies chimneys and combined with the rocks of the lunar landscape that do actually look like animals, it provides a wonderful backdrop for the perfect holiday picture.
The valley also has many animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Some of the most important, or the easiest seen animal shapes are camel, snake, seals, and dolphin. If you run your imagination you will find many others. It is like looking at clouds and seeing a dragon. There is even a rock pillar which looks like Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ.
Another popular stop on the Cappadocia Tours is Devrent Valley. The “fairy chimneys” come in a variety of sizes and shapes, some spires, some mushrooms, some, um, other things. Devrent features “the camel” as well as many other structures. You can make up your own names for them if you like. It’s part of the fun.
Deverent Valley is situated on the Northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabag Valley and 5km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent valley are spread over three valleys which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.