Restoration work continues in Cappadocia to protect fairy chimneys at risk from centuries of erosion and deterioration.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched the project two years ago in the Göreme area of Nevşehir to preserve the region’s historical and cultural heritage.

Coordinated by the Cappadocia Area Management, the restoration of five fairy chimneys affected by climate, time, environmental conditions and human activity has reached its final stage.

Aydın Cem Aslanbay, head of the Cappadocia Area Management, told reporters that efforts were continuing to preserve Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for future generations.

Aslanbay said the restoration work was being carried out with care.

"Cappadocia is a very important destination, but it also has very fragile formations ... We are doing everything we can to prevent further deterioration here. We have intervened on five fairy chimneys, and many of them are now complete,” he said.

"We will soon remove the scaffolding currently in place in Göreme and take preventive measures on other fairy chimneys that we believe pose a safety risk,” he added.

Aslanbay described Cappadocia as a major tourism destination, saying it attracts 4.5 million visitors and generates $2.5 billion in tourism revenue. He said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism believes the region has the potential to reach much higher levels.

He pointed to efforts to enhance the valleys and introduce nighttime museum visits as part of those efforts. "Once we restore the churches and incorporate them into faith tourism routes, Cappadocia will receive the recognition it deserves worldwide,” he said.

The Cappadocia Area Presidency previously carried out maintenance and restoration work on two other fairy chimneys.