Karadag, Karaman
Encyclopedia
Karadag is an extinct volcano in Karaman Province
, Turkey
.
of the volcano which is now a lava plain
, is approximatelly 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) north of Karaman
at 37.25°N 33.08°E with an altitude of 1610 metres (5,282.2 ft). The peak of the mountain is 2.25 kilometres (1.4 mi) east of this plain and its altitude is 2271 metres (7,450.8 ft). (Since the average altitude of the Karaman plains is about 1010 m. the height of the peak with respect to surrounding area is more than 1200 metres (3,937 ft). )
The shape of the mountain is roughly circular with a diameter of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) .
settlements in Turkey, Çatalhöyük
(ca 7500 BC) is at the north west of the volcano and there are Hitite inscriptions on the hills at the south east of the volcano. Ancient Derbe
which is one of the towns Saint Paul had visited is situated on the east slopes of the mountain. During the early ages of Christianity
the towns on the mountain were religious centers. There are ruins of early Byzantine
settlements all around the mountain and the local name of the villages in the mountain are Binbir kilise ( thousand and one church). But after Christianity was well established in big cities, the settlements on the mountain lost their religious importance.
Karaman Province
Karaman Province is a province of central Turkey. It has an area of 9,163 km². It has a population of 232,633 . According to the 2000 census the population was 243,210. Population density is 27.54 people/km². The traffic code is 70. The capital is the city of Karaman...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Geography
The craterVolcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
of the volcano which is now a lava plain
Lava plain
A lava plain, also called a lava field or lava bed, is a large expanse of nearly flat-lying lava flows. Such features are generally composed of highly-fluid basalt lava, and can extend for tens or even hundreds of miles across the underlying terrain...
, is approximatelly 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) north of Karaman
Karaman
Karaman is a town in south central Turkey, located north of the Taurus Mountains, about south of Konya. It is the capital district of the Karaman Province. According to 2000 census, the population of the province is 231 872 of which 132,064 live in the town of Karaman. The district covers an area...
at 37.25°N 33.08°E with an altitude of 1610 metres (5,282.2 ft). The peak of the mountain is 2.25 kilometres (1.4 mi) east of this plain and its altitude is 2271 metres (7,450.8 ft). (Since the average altitude of the Karaman plains is about 1010 m. the height of the peak with respect to surrounding area is more than 1200 metres (3,937 ft). )
The shape of the mountain is roughly circular with a diameter of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) .
History
The slopes of the volcano have always been inhabited. In fact, one of the earliest neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
settlements in Turkey, Çatalhöyük
Çatalhöyük
Çatalhöyük was a very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlement in southern Anatolia, which existed from approximately 7500 BCE to 5700 BCE...
(ca 7500 BC) is at the north west of the volcano and there are Hitite inscriptions on the hills at the south east of the volcano. Ancient Derbe
Derbe
Derbe is an ancient city in today's Turkey. This city is mentioned in the biblical book of Acts - , and was situated near ancient Lystra.- Location :...
which is one of the towns Saint Paul had visited is situated on the east slopes of the mountain. During the early ages of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
the towns on the mountain were religious centers. There are ruins of early Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
settlements all around the mountain and the local name of the villages in the mountain are Binbir kilise ( thousand and one church). But after Christianity was well established in big cities, the settlements on the mountain lost their religious importance.