Caves in Alanya
It is possible to call alanya ‘a city of caves’ You can discover the mysterious world of land and sea caves in Alanya. While wandering about the fascinating world of land and sea caves in Alanya. While wandering about the fascinating world of stalactites and stalagmites formed in thousands of years in land caves, you will also witness the forming of new stalactites and stalagmites. This witness, with the scenery created by the lighting inside the cave, will take you into a fantasy film. The world famous cave of Alanya is Damlataş Cave. The air in Damlataş is beneficial to the patients of asthma and doctors advise their patients o visit this cave. Kadıini Cave, which is not open for visit yet, is the settlement for the people of alanya 20 thousand years ago. Also the sea caves down under the peninsula are the places where ancient mythological tories took place.
Damlataş Cave
Damlataş Cave was discovered in 1948 quite by accident while minig for building of the harbour. It is located at the western foot of hold peninsula. There is a 50 m passage at the entrance. After the passage there comes a cylinderical cavity. This leads to the basement of the cave. The stalactite and stalagmites inside the cave were formed in 15 thousand years. Besides its fascinating beauty the cave is famous with its air which is beneficial to asthmatic patients. Following the rumors that asthmatic benefited from breathing the air in the cave, scientists analyzed a sample of the air to verify the fact that the air was indeed beneficial to patients suffering from non-allergic asthme. They found that the air in the cave contains 10 to 12 times more carbon dioxide than normal air and has % 95 humidity. Temperature in the cave is 22 degrees centigrade. Both the radioactivity and ionization in the cave may contribute to the benefits derived from breathing the air in the cave. Entrance is due to payment. There is a small market around and in front of the cave is a beach.
Dim Cave
It is located 12 km east of Alanya, on the slope of Cebel-i Reis Mountain of 1,649 metres. It has an altitude of 232 m. The cave is introduced to the visitors in 1998 and it is the second biggest cave known to the visitors. It is estimated to be 1 million years old. There are two paths inside the cave one is of 50 m, the other of 360 metres. There is a small lake towards the and of the cave. The 360 m. Long path is prepared and illuminated, so as to provide a pleasant excursion offering a tremendous scenery of stalagmite and stallactite for the visitors. After the excursion you can go down the path to Dim Creek valley or you can take the walk up the cave from the picnic area near the creek. There is a panoramic view of Alanya Fortress at the slope where the cave takes place. There are public buses going to the cave. Entrance is due to payment.
Kadıini Cave
Situated about 15 km north-east of Alanya, at a place called Çatak. There are stalagmites and stalactites three times bigger than the ones in Damlataş Cave. In the researches carried out in 1957 scientists found some human skeletons and fossils. They also found that these foundings belonged to the time of 20 thousands years ago and the first sttlement in alanya had been here. There are picnic areas in the vicinity. The cave has not been introduced to visitors yet.
Korsanlar Cave
It’s a sea cave under the historical peninsula where there is the Alanya Castle. Sea transportation is done by boats. Around the peninsula, according to the tour programmes, it’s the first cave. Little boats can enter the cave. You can also swim to enter the cave. There was a rumour that there was a hidden path reaching the castle and the pirates of ancient time took out their booty from this path to the upward part of the castle.
Aşıklar Cave
The cave, situated by the side of the historical peninsula, has got two entrances. After the boat comes alongside the rocks towards Cilvarda promontory, it’s able to reach the cave by rock climbing. You can reach the low entrance with a few steps. It’s 75 m. Long. Since it has a low ceiling, you sometimes bend down while walking. The altitude of the entrance on the side of Damlataş Cave from the sea is 8m. And you can jump into the sea here. All that moment the boat turns round Cilvarda promontory, gathers the people from the sea and goes on the excursion. However, there can be some people who don’t want to jump into the sea at the last moment and it’s more difficult for them to step down the rocks, so what you’ll do is at first stuffing up your nose and then diving into the sea with a huge scream. There was a rumour that the pirates hid their booty and girls in this cave. It’s thoughtthat the cave was named as Lovers Cave as the couples dated thre secretly.
Fosforlu Cave
It’s a sea cave on the side of Damlataş Cave in the peninsula. Little boats are able to enter the cave. Because of its geological construction the ground shines almost as if phosphorecently at nights due to the reflection of the moonlight. It’s also possible to notice the glitter in the daytime.
There are also the short swimming breaks in front of the cave as swimming here is an enjoyable experience.