Natural Wonder
Altınbeşik Cave is a unique natural wonder that hosts Turkey's largest and Europe's third largest underground lake. It is located near Ürünlü Village of İbradı district of Antalya, at an altitude of 450 meters.
The cave takes its name from the natural rock bridge in the middle of the first floor, which appears golden yellow due to the minerals it contains. It was named "Altınbeşik" (Golden Cradle) because this bridge resembles a cradle.
Discovery and History
The cave was first discovered by local people and was recorded by Dr. Temuçin Aygen, founder of the Turkish Speleology Association, in 1966. It was introduced to the public through the work of British and French cavers in 1966-1967.
The internal structure of the cave was largely revealed as a result of examinations by Japanese scientists in 1985 and Czech scientists in 1995. However, it is estimated that 90% of the cave has still not been discovered.
The underground waters of the cave extend to Beyşehir Lake, forming one of the world's largest karst systems with a length of more than 100 km as the crow flies. This massive underground water system reveals the geological importance of the region.
Visit Information
Can be visited 08:00-19:00 in summer, 08:00-17:00 in winter.
10 km from our mansion. Approximately 15 minutes by car.
The beauties of the cave are discovered by boat tour on the underground lake.
Photography is allowed inside the cave. Tripod use is recommended.
Experience an unforgettable holiday in our historic mansion, just 10 km from Altınbeşik Cave.
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