[2] The volcanic character of the area was recognized in antiquity, when it was named Katakekaumene (the burned lands) from the appearance of the environment, which was mostly suited for viticulture.

Aside from the mountainous eastern provinces, the plate is characteristically a plateau about 1 km above sea level.

Extension in Central Turkey has generated broad basins such as the Lake Tuz depression while in Western Turkey larger amounts of extension are accommodated on east-west normal faults which define grabens separated by mountain ranges.

The oldest remaining volcanic rocks of Kula are about 2 Ma old and observations indicate that most of the basalts extruded since this time have been preserved.

The plant succession on the lava fields and cones was subject of a study in 1974, which found that the vegetation is influenced both by climate factors such as temperature and precipitation and the orientation of the sides of the volcanoes in question.

The usual characteristics of the Mediterranean climate are warm and arid summers with rather mild, rainy winters.