This is a list of some of the approximately 40,000 caves in Turkey, which provide an important tourist attraction for the country. There are such a high number due to karstification in the west and central Taurus Mountains. The Cavern Research Society (MAD) established in 1964 initially monitored and investigates these caves, a role which has been taken up by BÜMAK (Boğaziçi University Speleological Society) and Karst and Cavern Exploration Unit (under the MTA Geology Studies Department). 800 caves and caverns have been investigated thus far.
The following is an incomplete list of caves in Turkey.[1] Show caves are shown in bold. Show caves shoen in italic can be toured by appropriate equipped visitors and under guidance. Not specially indicated caves are reserved for professional cavers only.[2][3][4]
Cave | Location | Length |
---|---|---|
Buzluk Cave, Ağrı | Ağrı | |
Aşıklar Cave | Antalya | |
Altinbesik Cave | Antalya, Akseki | 5,481 m (17,982 ft) |
Beldibi Cave | Antalya | |
Bűyŭkdipsiz Cave | Antalya | |
Çimeniçi Cave | Antalya | |
Damlataş Cave | Antalya, Alanya | |
Derya Cave | Antalya | |
Dim Cave | Antalya | |
Fosforlu Cave, Alanya | Antalya | |
Geyikbayiri Cavern | Antalya | |
Gürleyik Cave, İbradi | Antalya, İbradi | |
İnilti Pazarı Yaylacık Caves | Antalya | 5,929 m (19,452 ft) |
Karain Cave | Antalya, Döşemealtı | |
Kocadǚden Cave | Antalya | |
Kocain Cave | Antalya | 633 m (2,077 ft) |
Korsaniar Cave | Antalya | |
Küçükdipsiz Cave | Antalya | |
Mahrumçali Cave | Antalya | |
Orçudǚdeni Cave | Antalya | |
Papazkayasi Cave | Antalya | |
Peynirdeligi Cave | Antalya | |
Tilkiler Cave | Antalya, Manavgat | 6,818 m (22,369 ft) |
Yalandünya Cave | Antalya | |
Yerköprü Cavern | Antalya | |
Zeytintaşı Cave | Antalya | |
Aslanli Cave | Aydın | |
Karaca Cave, Kuşadası | Aydın, Kuşadası | |
Yazören Cave | Balıkesir, Savaştepe | 3,554 m (11,660 ft) |
Baltalıın Cave | Balıkesir[5] | |
İnkaya Cave (Balıkesir) | Balıkesir[5] | |
Gürcüoluk Cave | Bartın | |
Zağ Cave | Bingöl | |
Kalkanlı Cave | Bingöl | |
İnsuyu Cave | Burdur | |
Ayvaini Cave | Bursa, Ayvaköy | 4,866 m (15,965 ft) |
Oylat Cave | Bursa | |
Tuz Cave | Çankırı | |
Kaklık Cave | Denizli | |
Keloğlan Cave | Denizli | |
Beyyayla Cave | Eskişehir | |
Cindi Cave | Eskişehir | |
Īnönü Cave | Eskişehir | |
Kara Cave | Eskişehir | |
Karakaya Cave | Eskişehir | |
Karamikini Cave | Eskişehir | |
Kőçekkiran Cave | Eskişehir | |
Manasır Pit | Eskişehir | |
Mayislar Cave | Eskişehir | |
Sarikaya Cave | Eskişehir | |
Kőçekkiran Cave | Eskişehir | |
Yelinüstü Cave | Eskişehir | |
Yelini Cave | Eskişehir | |
Buzluk Cave, Elazığ | Elazığ | |
Karaca Cave, Torul | Gümüşhane, Torul | |
Sariseki Cave | Hatay | |
Ayiini Cave | Isparta | |
Inönü Cave | Isparta | |
Kuz Cave | Isparta | |
Pınargözü Cave | Isparta, Yenisarbademli | 5,275 m (17,306 ft) |
Zindan Cave | Isparta | |
İkigöz Cave | Istanbul, Çatalca | 4,816 m (15,801 ft) |
Yarımburgaz Cave | Istanbul, Başakşehir | |
Inkaya Cave | İzmir | |
Kurudag Cave | İzmir | |
Yediuyurlar Cave | İzmir | |
Eshab-ı Kehf Cave, Afşin | Kahramanmaraş, Afşin | |
Mencilis Cave | Karabük, Safranbolu | 5,250 m (17,220 ft) |
Düdenağzı Cave' | Karaman, Başyayla | 2,528 m (8,294 ft) |
Gürlevik Cave, Taşkale | Karaman, Taşkale | |
Hislayik Cave | Karaman | |
İncesu Cave | Karaman | |
Ilgarini Cave | Kastamonu | |
Sarpunalinca Cave | Kastamonu | |
Kuyluç Cave | Kastamonu | |
Dupnisa Cave | Kırklareli, Demirköy | 3,150 m (10,330 ft) |
*Yenesu Cave | Kırklareli | |
*Balatini Cave | Konya | |
Bǖyǖkdǖden Cave | Konya | |
Derebucak Çamlık Caves Natural Monument | Konya | |
Körükini Cave | Konya | |
Pinarbasi Cave | Konya | |
Suluin Cave | Konya | |
Susuk Guvercinlik Cave | Konya | |
Tinaztepe Cave System | Konya | |
Caves of Frig Valley | Kütahya | |
Akhayat sinkhole | Mersin | |
Cehennem Cave | Mersin | |
Cennet Cave | Mersin | |
Çukurpinar Sinkhole | Mersin, Anamur | 3,350 m (10,990 ft) |
Dilek Cave | Mersin | |
Eshab-ı Kehf Cave, Tarsus | Mersin, Tarsus | |
Gilindire Cave | Mersin | |
Köşekbükü Cave | Mersin | |
Morca Cave | Mersin, Anamur | |
Narlikuyu Cave | Mersin | |
Peynirlikönü-EGMA Sinkhole | Mersin, Anamur | 3,118 m (10,230 ft) |
Yalan Dünya Cave | Mersin | |
Fosforlu Cave, Marmaris | Muğla, Marmaris | |
Nimara Cave | Muğla | |
Yerküpe Cave | Muğla | |
Kuzgun Sinkhole | Niğde | 3,187 m (10,456 ft) |
Inalti Cave | Sinop | |
Kunduz Cave | Tokat | |
Ballica Cave | Tokat | |
Çalköy Cave | Trabzon | |
Akarsu Village Cave | Trabzon | |
Cehennemağzı Caves | Zonguldak, Karadeniz Ereğli | |
Çayırköy Cave | Zonguldak, Çayırköy | |
Cumayanı Cave | Zonguldak, Çatalağzı | |
Erçek Cave | Zonguldak | |
Gökgöl Cave | Zonguldak | 3,350 m (10,990 ft) |
Ilıksu Cave | Zonguldak, Ilıksu | |
İnağzı Cave | Zonguldak | |
Kızılelma Cave | Zonguldak, Ayiçi | 6,630 m (21,750 ft) |
Sofular Cave | Zonguldak, Sofular |