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Descriptions of Natural World Heritage Properties

COUNTRY Turkey

NAME Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappodocia

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY

V (Protected landscape)

Natural/Cultural World Heritage Site - Natural Criteria unknown/Cultural Criteria i, iii, v

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE 2.20.08 (Anatolian-Iranian Desert)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION In Nevsehir Province of Central Anatolia, between Nevsehir city and the towns of
Avanos and Urgüp. The park circumference is approximately 40km, extending from the bridge at Ürgüp then leading
north for 6km following the River Damsa. The boundary then heads west, immediately to the north of Zelve and south
of the River Kizilirmak, by Avanos to Toprak Tepe. The park boundary thence extends south-west directly to the peak
of Pinarcik Tepe (Kayacik Dag) and Kermil Dagi, thence eastwards to Ibrahimpasa, Ortahisar and back to Ürgüp.
38°26'N, 34°54'E

DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT Established on 25 November 1986 as a historical national park
under the Law of National Parks No. 2873, following proposals and draft management plans drawn up by the General
Directorate of Forestry and National Parks in 1968 (Article 25 of Forestry Law).
Protection for Göreme Valley and its surroundings was established in Decree No. A-69 of the High Council of
Monuments and Historic Sites promulgated on 10 July 1976 in the "Cappadocia General Conservation Plan". This
required the preparation of detailed development plans. The protection of the site is further assured under the Cultural
and Natural Assets Act 2863 enacted on 23 July 1983. The site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985.
AREA 9,576ha

LAND TENURE Private, although most of the core of the park is in federal ownership.

ALTITUDE Ranging from approximately 1,000m to 1,325m at Akdag.

PHYSICAL FEATURES The Göreme valley is an eroded plateau in a formerly active volcanic region. The nearby
Erciyas Dag volcano is now dormant, although there are still occasional earthquakes in the area. Peaks such as Hasan
Dag, Erciyas Dag (both outside the valley) and Akdag, dominates the valley landscape. Andesitic tuff was ejected from
volcaniceruptions in the late Pliocene covering an area of about 10,000 sq. km. This layer of tuff was in turn overlain
by a series of andesitic and basaltic lavas, between the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. The deep layers of soft, quite
homogenous material have been eroded to form regular conical peaks or irregular masses reflecting the differential
resistance to weathering. Typical geomorphological features include pillars, columns, towers, obelisks and needles,
sometimes reaching a height of 40m (G. Drucker, pers. obs. 1985).

CLIMATE Continental Anatolian climate with hot dry summers and cold winters (winters bring severe frosts and
prolonged snow cover). Temperature ranges from 0.5°C in winter (January) to 23°C in summer (July). Rainfall is low
and averages 360mm per year. There are intermittent snowfalls in January and February (average of 25mm per year)
(Göreme Milli Park Mudürlügü, pers. comm., 1995).

VEGETATION Comprises a largely agricultural landscape dominated by arable farming and vineyards and orchards.
Species found within the park include Thesium scabriflorum (V), Ferula halophila (V), Acantholimon
saxifragiforme (R), Onobrychis elata (R), Phryna ortegioides (R), Reseda armena (R) and Silene splendens (R). In
addition, some 110 endemic species such as Acanthus hirsutus, Alkanna orientalis, Leontodon oxylepis, and
Dianthus zederbauriana occur within the park (Vural and Kol, 1992).

FAUNA Mammal species include grey wolf Canis lupus (V), red fox Vulpes vulpes, otter Lutra lutra, Eurasian
badger Meles meles, beech martin Martes foina and brown hare Lepus europeus. Avifauna including rock partridge
Alectoris graeca, common quail Coturnix coturnix, feral rock dome Columba livia and falcon Falco sp. have also
been recorded in the park (Göreme Milli Park Mudürlügü, pers. comm., 1995).

CULTURAL HERITAGE Under continuous human occupation for at least 16 centuries. From the 4th to 13th
century AD, a relatively harmonious landscape has developed, which is integrated into and makes use of the spectacular
natural setting. An unusual feature of this area is the network of excavations in the volcanic formations dating back to
the fourth century. The 'fairy chimney' and exposed cliff faces have been part excavated and tunnelled so as to form
churches and various chambers. These caves served as refuges, residences, stores and places of worship. There are also
other classified monuments found within the valley but outside the limits of the park (G. Drucker, pers. obs. 1985).

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION The park and surrounding area includes a diversity of towns, villages and small
rural hamlets, with approximately 20,000 people living within the park and some 65,000 within the surrounding
community. The local population is traditionally dependent upon agriculture, pottery and weaving of rugs and carpets.
In the 1980s tourism has become one of the dominant economies of the region (Göreme Milli Park Mudürlügü, pers.
comm., 1995).

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES The park received 593,000 visitors in 1994. Of these, 14% comprised
local people and the remainder foreign visitors, whose average length of stay was two days (Göreme Milli Park
Mudürlügü, pers. comm., 1995). The main centre for visiting the national park is at the town of Göreme where there is
a diversity of facilities including interpretative trails, hotels and camping accommodation, information services,
restaurants, shops and transport. There are also three visitor centres outside the park. Thereis an open air museum a few
kilometres from Göreme, which encloses many of the historical church structures dating from Byzantine times
(Drucker, pers. obs. 1985).

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES A series of studies have been carried out in collaboration with the
Internaitonal Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties (ICCROM), UNESCO and
UNDP since 1973. Architectural photogrammetric studies have been undertaken by METU (Middle East University in
Ankara) and a series of geological and hydrogeological studies by UNESCO/ICCROM/UNDP consultants.
Work on the restoration of the murals of the 'Tokali Church' was carried out with the assistance of specialists from
ICCROM. A number of the unit's staff have also received training at ICCROM in Rome. The work at Tokali was
completed in 1980 and work begun in Karanlik in 1981. The conservation of the structures have been carried out by
METU and Unesco/ICCROM/UNDP consultants.

CONSERVATION VALUE Göreme Valley and its surroundings comprise an area of spectacular landscape which
have been entirely sculptured by erosion. The sanctuaries cut into the rock provide irreplaceable evidence of Byzantine
art from the post-iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns date back to the 4th century
and represent a traditional human habitat.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The area was established as a historical national park in order to protect and
develop the national and cultural elements of the area for scientific and aesthetic reasons. Management of Göreme
depends greatly on the indigenous population maintaining traditional agriculture and lifestyles. The master plan
proposes only nominal disturbance of the traditional pattern of life of the present day park residents. The General
Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ankara, and the General Directorate of
Forestry, National Park Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs, are jointly responsible
for the site.(Karakurum, pers. comm. 1987).
The protection of identified important areas is achieved by land-use zoning and by restriction and regulation of building
and the preservation of traditional values. The strictly protected Zone 1 is the core of the park and includes within its
boundary the principal antiquities and elements requiring protection. The two villages, Avcilar (Göreme) and Çavusin
are part of this zone. Zone 2 forms a buffer zone around Zone 1: all land-use activities, including agriculture is
permitted but regulated within the framework of existing law (Karakurum, pers. comm. 1987).

MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS The chief management problem is the serious damage being caused to the ancient
churches and paintings. Water is causing erosional damage and stains to a number of chapels. Natural erosion and
earthquakes are still seriously damaging many of the Byzantine chapels. Collapsing walls and rockfalls are not
uncommon in the more remote rock dwellings of the park (Karakurum, pers. comm. 1987).

STAFF Some staff provided by The Ministry of Culture and Governorship of Nevsehir (Göreme Milli Park
Mudürlügü, pers. comm., 1995).

BUDGET US$10,000 (Göreme Milli Park Mudürlügü, pers. comm., 1995).

LOCAL ADDRESSES
Göreme Milli Parklar Mudürlügü, Hükümet Konagi, 50100 Nevsehir, Turkey

REFERENCES
Baggley, G.R. et al. (1968). A master plan for the preservation and use of Göreme national park. Ankara, Turkey.
Bowen, R., Lizzi, F., and Verite, J. (1983). Draft report for the structural conservation of rock hewn churches of
Göreme in Cappadocia. ICCROM/UNESCO/UNDP, Rome.
General Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife (1980). National Parks of Turkey. Ministry of Forestry, General
Directorate of National Parks and Wildlife, Ankara.
Giovanni, Luciano. (1971). Arts de Cappadocia. Edition Nagel, Geneva, Switzerland.
de Jerphanion, G. (1925). Les Eglises Rupestres de Cappadocia. Librairie Orientaleste Paul Geuther, Paris.
Mora, P. et Mora, L. (n.d.). La conservation des peintures murales. ICCROM.
Orman Genel Müdürlügü. (1987). Göreme Historical National Park. Milli Parklar Dairesi, Bakanligi, Ankara.
Schawartzbaum, P. (1978). Conservation of churches in the Göreme Valley. ICCROM.
U.S. Agency for International Development. (1968). Göreme National Park, A master plan for the preservation and use
of. Report by the US Agency for International Development, US National Park Service Planning Team to Jordan.
Vural, M. and Kol, Ü. (1992). The flora of Göreme National Park. University of Gazi/Ankara.
World Heritage Nomination (1985). Göreme Historic National Park. World Heritage Nomination.

DATE January 1988, updated August 1995

For further information please write to:
Information Officer, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road,
Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1223 277314; Fax: +44 1223 277136.
General email: info@wcmc.org.uk
Email for World Heritage enquiries: jim.paine@wcmc.org.uk
Document URL: http:// www.wcmc.org.uk /protected_areas/data/wh/goreme.html
Revision date: 12-May-1997
Current date: 11-August-1998