The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change has recently declared two caves in the Karasu and Söğütlü districts as “natural assets” after protecting the Soğucak and Bataklıdere caves in the Sapanca district last year. According to Nedim Arsal, the Director of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change for the region, the four caves in Karasu, Sapanca, and Söğütlü have been registered as natural assets by the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets after evaluations and inspections.
Arsal stated that these caves have been protected due to their natural, aesthetic, scientific, and ecological value. Expert evaluations and research reports were prepared by specialists from the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets and experts from the Speleology Federation. The General Directorate will continue to make every effort to protect such caves, monumental trees, and other natural assets.
Mayor Selçuk Kurt of Söğütlü expressed the significance of the Söğütlü Cave, located 12 kilometers from the town center in Mağara Mahallesi, named after the cave. He described the cave as approximately 470 meters long and branching into two sections, with a width ranging from 1 to 8 meters and a height varying from 1.5 to 20 meters. Kurt highlighted the potential of the cave for wild cave tourism, mentioning its scenic beauty, an underground river, and impressive stalactites. He emphasized the importance of preserving this natural heritage for future generations.
The entrance to the cave features a staircase leading up to a height of 4 meters, and the cave extends up to a height of 22 meters. The cave is adorned with stalactites ranging from half a meter to one meter. Kurt announced plans to develop a project related to the cave, collaborating with the Sakarya Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and the Ministry for tourism purposes. The aim is to raise awareness about nature tourism in Söğütlü and leverage the cave’s potential to attract tourists, transforming the town into a tourism paradise.
Muhtar of Kızılcık Mahallesi in Karasu, Ismail Hakkı Topaloğlu, mentioned that teams from the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration and academic experts have conducted research in the cave located in their neighborhood. He shared that the research teams were impressed by the cave and recommended its further exploration. Topaloğlu expressed optimism about the potential of turning the cave into a tourism and cultural site with government support and encouraged local collaboration to facilitate access for tourists and visitors.
Topaloğlu described the cave’s interior, highlighting its spacious areas with stalactites and the presence of a large water accumulation resembling a lake. He stated that the cave’s length remains unknown, with rumors of it stretching up to two kilometers and reaching a height of 15 to 20 meters. The continuous growth of stalactites inside the cave adds to its allure. Topaloğlu underscored the importance of government engagement in harnessing the cave’s tourism potential and the readiness of locals to welcome and host visitors, contributing to the development of the region’s tourism sector.
