Fairy chimney rock formation in the Göreme National Park, close to the town of Göreme. Situated in the Turkish historical region of Cappadocia, Göreme has a population of around 2,000 people. It is not known when it was first inhabited, but there was a settlement there during the Hittite era, between 1800 and 1200 BC. For many centuries, the location was central between rival empires, leading the natives to tunnel into the rock to escape the political turmoil. During the Roman era, the area became home to Christians retreating from Rome. The Göreme valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.Photograph: Benh Lieu Song; retouch: Thomas Wolf