Turkey’s Ballıca Cave captivates visitors with its stalactites and sta

Famous for its stalactites, rare geological formations and cures for asthma, Ballıca Cave in Turkey’s northern Anatolian province of Tokat attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, the cave attracted 90,000 tourists during 2024. According to UNESCO, the cave has formed over an estimated time frame of 3.4 million years.

The cave’s interior is made up of karstic crystal lime stones, and its stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. It stands as one of Turkey’s largest and most magnificent caves, preserving its mystery with sections that have not yet been opened to visitors, as well as parts of it which have yet to be discovered.

Ballıca Cave maintains an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a humidity level of 54%. This, as well as its high oxygen levels, make it particularly appealing to asthma and COPD patients, as it helps them breathe more easily.

Studies on the cave began in the 1980s, followed by systematic and scientific examinations in the next decade. Many wells, vaults and pits in the cave are still being studied.

To find out more, watch the video in the player above.