The massive, eroded stratovolcano Erciyes Dağ dominates the northern end of the Sultansazligi Basin in central Anatolia. It covers an area of about 1300 sq km.

The growth of the modern volcano began about 0.9 million years ago, following Pliocene caldera collapse of the Kocdag complex. Numerous parasitic cones and lava domes are found mostly on the north flank of the modern edifice, many along radial fissures. The youngest dated rock was from an 83,000-year-old dacitic lava flow, but rhyodacitic eruptions and lava dome growth occurred later at the Perikartin dome. The latest documented event is an edifice-collapse that produced a large debris avalanche that extended to the east. Uncertainty remains regarding reported historical eruptions of Erciyes Dagi and their possible depiction on Roman Cappadocian coins. Historical counts possibly referring to eruptions could also be attributed to methane releases from a swamp in the Sultansazligi Basin.