15 otherworldly photos of one of the most popular tourist destinations in Turkey

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

One of the most interesting tourist destinations in Turkey lies in central Anatolia, in an area marked by stark, open plains. This destination, Cappadocia, is an oddity - with incredible rock houses carved by humans, staggering volcanic fairy chimneys that stand up to 130 feet tall, and entire underground cities, the region attracts thousands of tourists each year.

It has been known as Cappadocia since ancient times, though today it is also informally known as Kapadokya. It has been an officially designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

However, the US Department of State recently issued a travel warning advising Americans not to visit Turkey, due to the war in Syria and recent terrorist attacks. Getty photographer Chris McGrath recently visited Cappadocia and talked with local vendors who still expect tourist numbers to be stable due to the unique activities travelers can enjoy there.

Below, see McGrath's beautiful images of the popular tourist destination of Cappadocia.