USA Turkish Times - Tarsus to offer cave tourism for visitors

Tarsus to offer cave tourism for visitors

The expansive Taşkuyu cave that gives off a phosphorescent glow in the Mediterranean region of Mersin is being converted into a tourist attraction. Tarsus Archaeology Museum Director Abdulbari Yıldız told the Anatolia news agency that preparation work for utilizing the site for tourism and the work he carried out together with two archaeologists, Adak Adıbelli and Doğukan Bekir Alper, are about to open the way for the last stage before welcoming visitors. Located in the Tarsus district, Yıldız said they have built stairs and a door at the entrance of the cave and work was continuing in the three-meter tunnel, which gives way to the main gallery of the cave.

“We are trying to widen the tunnel so that people can easily pass through the cave. It will be ready for visitors when walking tracks and a lighting system are installed,” he said.

The cave, which is around 15 kilometers from Mersin's Tarsus district, was found some time ago during road construction in the area and further examinations inside the cave revealed a hidden tunnel as well as a number of smaller galleries connected to this tunnel. The height of the tunnel is 10 meters in some places. There are also many stalactites, stalagmites and wall travertine in the galleries.

“It shines like phosphorus when you shine a light into the cave due to its geological structure,” Yılmaz said, adding, “It is the cave's natural formation. We didn't come across fossils in the cave, which is quite rich in terms of travertine. The cave stretches over a wide area and visitors will be able to see the cave during a two-hour tour when it opens to tourism.”

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