Akhayat sinkhole
Akhayat (also known as Aşağı Dünya Obruğu) is a sinkhole in Mersin Province, Turkey.
The Akhayat Sinkhole is located in a rural area of the Silifke ilçe (district), to the north of Atayurt town.
Geography
The sinkhole is situated to the north of Atayurt town in the rural area of Silifke district. Its distance to Silifke is 19 kilometres (12 mi)[1] Visitors from Mersin follow Turkish state highway D.400 for 75 kilometres (47 mi) and the road to north for 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) and finally a path for 700 metres (2,300 ft).
The sinkhole
Its dimensions are about 100 x 150 m2 ( 330 x 490 ft2) Its maximum depth with respect to surrounding is 70 metres (230 ft).[1] There is a rock carved ancient ladder on the north west side. But a part of the ladder has been demolished and descending by using the ladder is dangerous. There are several man made caves on the walls of the sinkhole. 400 metres (1,300 ft) west of the sinkhole there are traces of an ancient settlement which was probably a cult center. It is thought that the sinkhole and the settlement were probably related to each other.[1] There are rock tombs and altars to the south of the sinkhole [2]
Tourism
There are other sinkholes in Mersin Province such as Cennet and Cehennem system and Kanlıdivane. Akhayat is relatively less known. Although it is possible to visit the site presently there is no touristic activity. But Silifke governor said that the site will be opened to tourism.[3]
See also
References
- v
- t
- e
- Aslanlı Cave
- İncirliin Cave
- İnkaya Cave
- Karaca Cave, Aydın
- Zeus
- Ballıca Cave
- Cehennemağzı Caves
- Cumayanı Cave
- Çal Cave
- Çayırköy Cave
- Dağlı Kuylucu Cave
- Erçek Cave
- Gökgöl Cave
- Gürcüoluk Cave
- Ilgarini Cave
- Ilıksu Cave
- İnağzı Cave
- İnaltı Cave
- Kızılelma Cave
- Karaca Cave, Gümüşhane
- Mencilis Cave
- Sofular Cave
- Balatini Cave
- Büyük Düden Sinkhole
- Derebucak Çamlık Caves
- Düdenağzı Cave
- Düdenyayla Sinkhole
- Körükini Cave
- Kuzgun Sinkhole
- Subatağı Sinkhole
- Tınaztepe Cave System
- Buzluk Cave
- Ayvaini Cave
- Dupnisa Cave
- Oylat Cave
- Yarımburgaz Cave
- Yenesu Cave
- Baltalıın Cave
- İnkaya Cave (Balıkesir)
- Altınbeşik Cave
- Akhayat sinkhole
- Atlılar Sinkhole
- Cennet and Cehennem
- Çukurpınar Cave
- Damlataş Cave
- Egma Sinkhole
- Eshab-ı Kehf Cave
- Gilindire Cave
- İnilti Pazarı–Yaylacık Cave System
- İnsuyu Cave
- Kanlıdivane
- Karain Cave
- Kocain Cave
- Kuyukule Sinkhole
- Maraspoli Cave
- Nimara Cave
- Pınargözü Cave
- Sütlük Sinkhole
- Tilkiler Cave
- Zeytintaşı Cave
- Zindan Cave
- Turkey portal
- Category
36°26′54″N 34°00′37″E / 36.4482°N 34.0103°E / 36.4482; 34.0103