Altinbesik Cave

Altinbesik Cave is one of the most unusual subterranean lakes in the world. It was developed on three levels, and the bottom and middle levels are active in the rainy seasons, and the upper level is always dry. The lowest level is still active with an underground river, rimstone pools and waterfalls. That is the reason why it is sometimes called Altinbesik Waterfalls (Altınbeşik Düdeni). The Altinbesik Cave acts as an underground stream which releases water which has collected underground. In the autumn there are many stationary ponds, and in the spring, many streams flow from the sub and middle levels of the cave. In the upper level, there are stalactites and stalagmites. The Altinbesik Cave is visited from the resurgence by boat, until a travertine barrier, a rimstone 44 m high, is reached. The first cave lake is 125 m long and up to 9 m deep, and it is followed by a part with many formations. The entrance portal is 40 m wide and 40 m high. Altinbesik Cave’s highest point is 101 meters high.