A large sinistral intracontinental transcurrent structure, the Central Anatolian Fault Zone (CAFZ), is located between
Erzincan in the northeast and offshore of Anamur county in the southwest of Turkey. Northeastern and southwestern segments of the fault zone are linked to each other by an intervening and approximately N&
ndash;S-trending transtensional structure, the Erciyes pull-apart basin (EPB). The K?z?l?rmak&
ndash;Erkilet and Dökmetas segments of the CAFZ bend southwards at about 45°&
ndash;50° near Kayseri and result in a releasing double bend, which has nucleated both the EPB and its main feature, the Erciyes stratovolcano complex (ESVC) since Middle Pliocene time. The EPB is a
35-km-wide, 120-km-long, 1.2-km-deep, lazy S-shaped and actively-growing depression with the ESVC forming a high-standing central barrier between the northern and southern parts of the basin. Hence, the EPB appears as two separate basins, namely the Sultansazl?g? and Kayseri&
ndash;Sar?msakl? depressions. However, this is not correct, because development of the EPB and ESVC has been coeval with the volcanic activity producing the ESVC continuing into prehistoric times. Development of the EPB is continuing as indicated by faulted, uplifted and terraced Pleistocene&
ndash;Early Holocene palaeolake beach deposits, and historical to recent earthquakes. Accumulative throws on the eastern and western margin-bounding faults of the EPB are 1225 m and 720 m respectively and show that basin development has been asymmetrical.