 | Erciyes Dagi (photographer unknown) |
Erciyes Dagi
12851 ft (3917 m) . |
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| Location: | Cappadocia, Central Turkey | ||
| Lat / Long: | 38.5° N, 35.5° E | ||
| Volcanic Type: | Eroded stratovolcano | ||
| Volcanic Status: | Dormant, possibly extinct | ||
| First Ascent: | |||
| First Ski Descent: | |||
| Skiable Vertical: | up to 6000 ft (1800 m) | ||
| Lift Served Vertical: | about 3000 ft (900 m) | ||
| Erciyes Dagi is the highest mountain in central Turkey, a prominent landmark since antiquity (then known as Mount Argaeus) visible over much of the middle of the country. Unlike Turkey's other major volcanoes, Erciyes is extensively eroded, as the main peak has been inactive for probably close to 100,000 years, although there have been flank eruptions in more recent times. From the south and west, the peak appears from a distance to be a symmetrical cone, but from the north and east the extent of erosion is revealed, as huge cirques have carved away much of these faces. The northwest cirque holds a small valley glacier, while the northeast cirque contains a rock glacier (a mass of rock cemented together with interstitial ice, which flows downhill in the same manner as a regular glacier but much more slowly). A ski area, one of the best in Turkey, occupies the lower portions of the northeast side. Erciyes is a fairly easy climb by the east or northwest ridges, except that the summit pinnacle requires some rock climbing. | |||
