Caves of Gümüşhane

Gümüşhane Discovery of The Cave

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Gumushane is a city whicy is on the historical Silk Road Between China and Trabzon.It combines the history with nature and the legend with reality.Due to the rich silver mines,it was called Gumushane(meaning house of silver).

It had been a settlement for ancient times and constituted a mosaic of ethnic groups.Gumushane was establıshed in BC 3000.

Gumushane is surrounded by Bayburt on the east,Trabzon on the North,Gıresun on the west and Erzincan on the south. It is founded in the inner area of East Black Sea Region and 100 km far away from the sea.

The the city center is 1153m high from sea level and settled along the Harsit Cayı(Harsit River). The total area of Gumushane is 6437 km2 and consist of six districts. It is a very rich city in many kinds of valuable mines especially silver and gold.

Gumushane has a great intact touristic potential with its caves,plateaus,waterfalls,ancient cities,flora and fauna.

Discovery of The Cave

Although the cave is known by the people living in that region, it was open to tourism as a result of scientific research conducted by Sukru Eroz who is a Geological Engineer from Cebeli Village between the years 1983-1990.

Prof.Dr.Remzi Dilek and his team from the departmant of Geological Engineering in K.T.U(KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)contributed a lot to research and scientific studies conducted fort he cave.

As a result of these scientific studies conducted fort his cave,it was opened to tourism in 1996 efter The Ministery of Tourism was informed and the cave was offically registered.

Locatıon And Arrıval

As it is known,the caves are the first natural shelters used by the human being.Therefore they attract the attention of many researchers and force them to search.Moreover, discoveries of the beauties and mystery in the caves make people happy and peacefull. Apart from this, the caves provide the facilities for performing the exciting sports and bring about the development of speleology which means the science of caves.

Karaca Cave is surrounded by the bordes of Cebeli Village which is in the Torul Town.It is 17 km far away from the city center and 1550 m high from the sea level.The cave is the foremost touristic place in Gumushane.

The cave can be arrived by following the 4 km road which is seperated from the 12th km of Gumushane-Trabzon highway.This 4 km road is paved with asphalt and has double band.So and eating facilities where the visitors can meet all their needs are available near the cave.

Stratıgraphıg-Lıthologıcal Characterıstıcs

In the area extending between Gumushane and Toruls, super-cruastecan formatians have been extensively scattered out.These generally consist of andezitic and basatic lavas,lufs and agglomerates.Total thickness of this line reaches 1000 meters .Partly intermissionary additves varying between 100m and 200m in thickness and consisting of limestone,marn and gres draw attention.Karaca Cave developed in aboundantly cracked massive limestone encircled by volcanits in this serial.

Constıtutıon of The Cave

The cave of Karaca is rich in formation dripstones.These dripstones are in different shape and colour.Inside the cave,there are dripstones stalactites,stalagmites,travertines and cave roses,at the edge of travertines,even on the stalagmites.

The pool of dripstones are very large in the cave.Especially the ones through the end of cave have up to 1 meter depth.

Looking at theharmony of these formations one can be fascinated.The existance of travertines from white to dark blue proves high density of iron and magnesium minerals in the water.

The Shape of Cave

The cave lies on a horizantal way,having four different halls connecting each other.The two of these halls are also divided into two by the wall dripstones,as a result the number of halls can be regarded as six.

The height of the cave entrance is as tall as a man,but through the inside the height increases regulary and the shape of cave becomes like a funnel. The distance between the entrance and the end is 105 meters length.The average height is 18 meters.The total area is 1500 square meters.

Exıstance of Water In The Cave

There is no stream in the cave of Karaca, but water leaking through the roof of cave still provides formation of dripstones. Apart from this,inside the cave there are travertine pools and a few ponds.The ponds which are at the entrance of third and fourth halls have lots of water content.

The Atmosphere In The Cave

There is no significant air circulation. Therefore the humidity rate in its atmosphere changes relativety from the entrance to inner parts of the cave by increasing.The increase rate is 65% at the entrance,70%in the salon 1\a and it rises up to 75% in the saloon 1\b.The air inside the cave is cooler then outside the cave in summer and warmer in winter. Because of these, it is considered as a micro air conditioned area.

Conclusıon

The cave possesses the most beautiful,magnificant and fascinating examples of dripstones.It is such a beautiful and a valuable place that deserves to enter The World Estate List of UNESCO.So it is foremost and the principle touristic place in Gumushane.In the aspects of the health tourism,it is very effective in treatment of respiratory diseases.

The Karaca Cave was open to the visitors in 1996.

It was visited by the 500 000 people since 1996.Having seen the Karaca Cave is a really fascinating, mystical adventure.