Taurus Mountains

Abstract

The limestone rock of the Taurus Mountains has eroded over time to create karstic landscapes of caves, waterfalls, and meadows. They form a long mountain chain that runs from Lake Egridir to the Euphrates River. The mountains are thinly populated and there is extensive grazing along the plateaus. -CK

Description

The Taurus Mountains created a natural border between many great civilizations because they were very difficult to cross. The mountains split the Assyrian and Babylonian empires as well as the Byzantine empire and caliphates of Damascus and Baghdad. One of the few roads across the range is the Cicilian Gate connecting Cappadocia and Cicilia. -CK

References

"Taurus Mountains." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Taurus-Mountains

"Cilician Gate." Livius. https://www.livius.org/articles/place/cilician-gate/

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Photograph processed December 1966. Formerly catalogued as B42.100. Notes written on the slide or index: Taurus.

Identifier AQ.100
Location Konya, Turkey
Year 1966
Batch Stamp DEC 66
Printed Date December, 1966
Index Notes Taurus