Gökgöl Mağarası

Skylake Caves


Useful Information

Location: Near Zonguldak, at the Zonguldak-Ankara Highway. Northwest of Ankara, east of Istambul, at the shore of the Black Sea.
Open: All year daily 9-12, 13-18.
[2008]
Fee:  
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension: L=3,350 m, T=13 °C.
Guided tours: L=875 m, V=36,000/a[2004]
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography: H. Aytekin, R. Baldık, N. Çelebi, B. Ataksor, M. Taşdelen, G. Kopuz (2006): Radon measurements in the caves of Zonguldak (Turkey) Radiation Protection Dosimetry, Volume 118, Issue 1, April 2006, Pages 117–121, DOI online
Address: Tel: +90-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

1976 cave discovered by the founder of the Türkiye Mağara Araştırma Derneği (Turkey Cave Research Association) Temuçin Aygen.
1998 developed for the public.
2001 opened to the public.

Description

Gökgöl Mağarası (Gökgöl Cave) is a rather young show cave. Located in the vicinity of the coal mining city Zonguldak, right at the important highway to the Turkish Capital Ankara, it has a lot of visitors. The cave is well developed with concrete paths and electric light. It has numerous impressive speleothems and huge chambers.

The cave entrance was long known to the locals, but as it was water filled, they never ventured inside. The first to do so was Temuçin Aygen, the founder of the Türkiye Mağara Araştırma Derneği (Turkey Cave Research Association). After he explored and surveyed the cave, it was developed by opening an artificial entrance above the water filled natural entrance.

The cave has an 875 m long trail, and as it is necessary to return the same way the tour is actually 1750 m long. While the first 700 m are level, the last gallery is on a higher level and it is necessary to climb many stairs. The active level with the cave river is below the tourist part. However, sometimes in winter the water rises substantially and floods a part of the trail. At this time the visitors can only see the first 500 m which are not prone to flooding.