Akhayat sinkhole Cave

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Akhayat sinkhole

Akhayat sinkhole; The sinkhole is situated to the north of Atayurt town in the rural area of Silifke district. Its distance to Silifke is 19 kilometres (12 mi)Visitors from Mersin follow Turkish state highway D.400 for 75 kilometres (47 mi) and the road to north for 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) and finally a path for 700 metres (2,300 ft).
Its dimensions are about 100 x 150 m2 ( 330 x 490 ft2) Its maximum depth with respect to surrounding is 70 metres (230 ft). There is a rock carved ancient ladder on the north west side. But a part of the ladder has been demolished and descending by using the ladder is dangerous. There are several man made caves on the walls of the sinkhole. 400 metres (1,300 ft) west of the sinkhole there are traces of an ancient settlement which was probably a cult center. It is thought that the sinkhole and the settlement were probably related to each other.There are rock tombs and altars to the south of the sinkhole.