The Caldera of Nemrut Dagi
Volcano with obsidian lava and lakes in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Volcano with obsidian lava and lakes in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Spectacular hypersaline crater lake (maar) with a cinder cone in the centre (Central Anatolia, Turkey)
Shallow water as far as the eye can see and a reddish colour due to halobacteria — the Great Salt Lake in Central Anatolia (Turkey)
Why spent 7 months in the Middle East? Why the Caucasus? Iran, Syria and Israel, Armenia and Turkey. So many contrasts! In Georgia we were even surprised by the war. An itinerary full of conflicts and full of religiously charged countries. But also a region full of art treasures and spectacular nature. Ultimately, this is … Continue reading “Backpacking trip Middle East and Caucasus 2008”
Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and Mosaic Museum
Trip along the coast with Sumela, Trabzon, Amasya, Sinop, Amasra and Safranbolu
The Pontic Mountains, which stretch along the coast in the north of Turkey, have their highest heights just before Georgia, before turning into the Lesser Caucasus (see also The Formation of Mountains). The Kaçkar Mountains are also called the Pontic Alps; dark, rocky crests, needles of granite, blue cirque lakes, boulder fields. I could imagine … Continue reading “Trekking Mount Kaçkar”
Ruins of the ancient Armenian city in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey)
Around the lake in Eastern Anatolia
A strange royal tomb from antiquity in Anatolia (Turkey)
Fairy-tale volcanic landscape full of old churches (Central Anatolia, Turkey)
Istanbul serves us as a gentle introduction to the Middle East, after all, this city still has one foot in Europe. A fantastic backdrop of domes, minarets and water, but also a vibrant nightlife, hardly any headscarves… Hagia Sofia (6th century) is also a good historical introduction, as it is the architectural model for many … Continue reading “Istanbul”
Three weeks in Turkey – exactly the time of the war in Iraq, which gave us a cheap flight. I am particularly excited by the ignimbrite landscape of Cappadocia, eroded into fascinating shapes. Early Christian churches set the mood for Byzantine and Ottoman architecture in Istanbul…. and the antiquity of Pergamon or Ephesus. The sinter … Continue reading “Turkey 2003”