Balatini Mağarası

Useful Information

Location:	Musalla, 42485 Derebucak/Konya. (37.358385, 31.589055)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. National Park: Adults TRL 20, Children TRL 10. Bike TRL 15, Motorbike TRL 30, Car TRL 45, Minibus TRL 135, Bus TRL 450. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Derebucak Çamlik Mağaralari Mi̇lli̇ Parki
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=2,030 m, VR=45 m.
Guided tours:	self guided, L=2,200 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Balatini Mağarası, Musalla, 42485 Derebucak/Konya, 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. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1970	explored by Temuçín Aygen and French and Italian cavers.
29-NOV-2013	declared a natural monument.
07-JUN-2022	Derebucak Çamlik Mağaralari Mi̇lli̇ Parki (Derebucak Çamlik Caves National Park) established.
2023	development with 1,100 m elevated trails completed.
2024	electric light installed.

Description

Balatini Mağarası is a part of the Derebucak Çamlik Mağaralari Mi̇lli̇ Parki (Derebucak Çamlik Caves National Park), the 47th National Park of Turkey. It is reached from the road Derebucak-Çamlik, the turnoff is signposted. The single lane road was paved lately and ends in a small car park with toilets. As the cave has no fee its possible to visit freely. There is a fee for the park though, but we could not find out where and how it is paid, and how long it is valid. However, the cave is full developed, there are trails, staircases, bridges over rivers, and the tour end in the second entrance in the cliff, which was used to construct a plattform with glass floor, which offers a great few. The electric light required more effort, as a cable first had to be laid to the cave.

The cave has two levels, and the upper level is fossil, while the lower is still active. But unlike the other caves in the area, this is not a river which entered the cave through a sink and is thus rather large. This is a small river which is collected in the area of the cave. During summer, it may dry out, but the passage has up to 5 m deep pools which hold the water all year.

The main entrance of the cave has archaeological remains. There are some historic ruins and some tombs. According to local lore, there are Roman remains in the cave. It seems the cave was not yet excavated.