Antalya's Caves

Dim (Gavurini) Cave

Location: Antalya, Alanya District
The cave is located at the locality of Kuzkaya village. It is at the west slope of the Cebireis mountain (1691 m.) at the east of Alanya. Reaching the cave by walking is possible either via the Dim creek valley or via the Yaylalı village at the south. To reach the cave from Yaylalı village, a walk of 50 minutes following the watering channels at the skirts of the Cebireis mountain is required.

Properties:The total length of the cave is 357 meters and the cave is horizontal and dry. There is only a quiet small lake towards the end of the cave.
Dim cave is one of the most beautiful caves of Turkey. It is suitable for a visit as is at the vicinity of Alanya and as the environment is covered with forests and picnic sites. Because the cave was used as a shelter by prehistoric and historic periods, the cave was called as "Gavurini Cave" by the local people.

Beldibi Cave

Location: Antalya
The cave is an under - rock shelter located at the 40th kilometer of the coastal highway between Antalya - Kemer, just after the Çamdağ tunnel. It is at the locality of Oba village.

Properties: The cave is at 25 m. height from the coast and is in the shape of a shelter. As the cave is damaged extensively by natural destruction, the filling layers are flown away by rain waters and winds.

6 layers containing totally Mesolotic cultures were determined. The cultures found inside this cave display similarities with the alizarin, solitarian and tardenovasior cultures of Europe. At the excavations, Flintstones tools belonging to Upper Paleolithic and Mesolotic periods were obtained. Also, at the walls of this under - rock shelter, human, mountain goat and deer drawing sketches are present. The cave is an archeological side which is continuously open to local and foreign tourists.

Büyük Dipsiz Cave

Location: Antalya
The cave is located at the south slope of Alakaya Hill (661 m.) which is at the west of Antalya port 3 km. southwest of Tünek Hill.

Properties: The cave, with the total length of 40 m. has the deepest point at 29 meters in respect to the cave entrance. As the karstic floor water is present at the above layers, the cave is dry. The cave is more chilly than open air. The temperature outside is 20ºC at the beginning of November though the temperature inside the cave is 17ºC.

The cave is formed between the Creates aged residual limestone and by the conglomerate limestone formations of the same age just below this layer. After a narrow entrance, with an average slope of 25º the cave proceeds towards north.

Derya Cave

Location: Antalya
The cave is located inside the Atatürk Park which is between the Konyaaltı Street and coast.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 124 m. and the deepest point in respect to the entrance is at 35.65 meters. The cave is vertical. As the south section of the cave is inside the sea, it could be named as "marine cave". The cave is dry and its development had been halted. The sections which are at the sea are covered with the partially salted sea water.

There are a small amount of stalagmite and wall travertine developed at the grand hall though towards south the amount of stalagmite ve stalactite increases. In this section, sweet water springs gush out of cracks and mix to sea water. There is a second exit to the 40 m west of the main entrance. With the width of 0,5 meters ve1 meters length, the entrance is seen as a widened crack.
Air is relatively chilly in respect to open air in summer.

Çimeniçi Cave

Location: Antalya, Alanya District
Çimenini cave is located at the vicinity of Şıhlar (old name Şeyhler) village, at the southern skirts of Cebireas mountain , to the east of Alanya. Reaching to the Şıhlar village is by the 15 km stabilized road branched from Konya- Gazipaşa highway in Demirtaş sub district and from this village the cave is at a short walking distance. There are historic remains and traces of Romans around the vicinity of the cave.

Properties: The Total length of the cave is 10 meters and except for a steep climb it is totally horizontal. Because the thickness of the limestone in which the cave has developed is in a limited and congested area, the cave is totally dry hydrological. The atmosphere of the cave is relatively chilly when compared with open air. The average temperature is around 17ºC - 20ºC.

The cave has been formed by numerous connected chambers and two layers. The cave has a single aperture among the direction of East, Southeast - West initially and later the chambers were formed as the aperture was divided by travertine pillars. There are numerous chambers at the primary section and is completely horizontal.

The cave then proceeds to the second section via a steep climb of + 57 meters. This section of the cave is +10 meters higher than the entrance and is formed by two big chambers. The cave is extremely rich on the basis of travertine deposition. The travertine pillars forming the chambers cover most of the space. The side walls are decorated with drapery travertine.

This cave is interesting because of the beauties of the natural formations and accompanying historic remains in the vicinity. The usage at the historic periods ware understood though no written documents were revealed by the recent studies. The cave has not been involved in the touristic locations.

Mahrumçalı Cave

Location: Antalya, Manavgat District
The cave is located to the east of Mahrumçalı quarter which is to the east of Gebecek village northeast of Manavgat. Reaching the cave is possible via all sorts of vehicles.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 157 m. and the deepest point in respect to the entrance is at - 36 meters. The cave is semi horizontal and semi active. Water flows inside the cave only in the precipitant seasons. The temperature of the cave in summer months is around 16 - 18ºC.
Geology - Geomorphology The cave is developed at the contact point between the Cebireis formation and the Mahmutlar formation which is below. The cave is inside the dolomithic limestone and over the micaschist layers and dives towards south by 15 degrees concordant with the curvature of both layers.

Peynirdeliği Cave

Location: Antalya, Kemer District
The cave is located at the Gedelme Plateau locality. There is a road connecting Kemer district to Gedelme plateau. With a short walk of approximately 4 minutes is necessary to reach to the cave entrance from the village center. There is a historic wall and ruins belonging to Byzantium at 65 m. north of the cave.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 74 meters and the deepest point in respect to the entrance is at - 19 meters. The cave is dry and is mostly vertical.

Most part of the cave is dry. There is only a small lake at the end and the deepest point of the cave. The temperature of the cave is 17ºC in Autumn. As the cave entrance is relatively large, the temperature of the inner cave changes relatively to the conditions of open air.

There are stalactite, stalagmite and pillars developed inside the cave. The surrounding natural beauties and historic ruins makes the cave more attractive.

Tilkiler Cave

Location: The cave is located inside the area of Oymapınar Dam at Manavgat District, in Antalya.

Properties: The cave has developed horizontally and is an active cave with a total length of 7 meters. The water level inside the cave rises in spring.

The cave had been discovered by encountering a natural gallery during the construction of injection galleries of the dam. As the cave has been developed inside Conglomerate, the cave has significant scientific value.

Sırtlanini Cave

Location: Antalya, Kemer District
The cave is located between Yukarı Çamarası and Narlıgedik villages of Karacasu sub district. Reaching the cave from both of the villages is possible. A walk of 20 - 25 minutes from Narlıgedik village is necessary to reach the cave. The cave is close to the Aphrodisias ruins.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 348 meters (Main Gallery: 147 m.) and the deepest point in respect to the cave entrance is at -32 meters. It is a horizontal and dry cave.

The cave starts with a very narrow mouth. After 4 - 5 meters the main cave opening is reached. The saloon is divided into 5 - 6 sections by the pillars developed side by side and finally forming walls. All of the chambers connected to this saloon is decorated with stalactite, stalagmite and pillars. As the temperature outside is 28ºC and the relative humidity is 44 percent, the temperature inside the cave is 17ºC and the humidity amount is 85 percent.

Aslanlı (Yaren) Cave

Location: Antalya, Manavgat District
The cave is located at the Plateau locality of Kirazlı Village. In order to reach to Aslanlı Cave, a walk of about 30 minutes is necessary, starting from the Dereboğazı locality which is at the 3rd kilometer of Kirazlı - Kuşadası road.

Properties: The total length of the cave is 110 meters and the cave is partially horizontal, partially vertical. It is a dry cave. The temperature in October is 18ºC.

The cave has developed inside the dolomithic marble of Mesozoic age and on a large fault. After a steep downwards descent of 6 meters, the cave descends towards west with 26 degrees among a big fault roughly in the direction of east - west, and after 40 meters the cave enlarges and the floor looks like an inclined saloon. The floor of the saloon is covered with muddy ground and rock blocks fallen from the ceiling. The stalactite and stalagmites formed drapery and flag travertine on the walls. The name of the cave comes from one of the stalagmite which looks like a sitting lion.