Zeytintaşı Cave, Dripstone cave in Akbaş, Turkey
Zeytintaşı is a dripstone cave near Akbaş with two levels spanning a total of 233 meters along a hillside. Inside you find many limestone formations shaped by water over long periods.
The cave was discovered in 1997 during road construction by the Turkish Highway Administration and later developed for public access. This finding allowed people to experience the geological formations firsthand.
The name comes from olive stones found in the surrounding area, reflecting how locals named the place after what grew nearby. Today visitors see how such everyday details connect people to their landscape.
The interior stays at a constant temperature year-round, so bringing a light jacket is practical for your visit. Guided tours explain how the limestone formations developed through natural processes, which helps you understand what you see.
The cave contains soda straws, which are thin tube formations that can reach up to 70 centimeters in length while being only 3 centimeters thick. These delicate structures are rare and show how slowly nature builds these details.
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