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The Hayat Cave Karst System (Samsun, TURKEY)

Year 2020, Issue: 5, 87 - 100, 15.10.2020
https://doi.org/10.46453/jader.778432

Abstract

In this study, Hayat Cave karst system was investigated. The study area is located within the borders of Başaran village of Bafra district in Samsun province. The system has original shapes belonging to surface and depth karst. The aim of the study is to investigate the ecological, morphological and speleological features of the Hayat Cave karst system which has not been subject of any scientific research up to now. The study is mainly based on field observations and measurements. The knowledge obtained from the area and literature was processed in Geographical Information Systems and they were converted into visual materials. The region has a humid and temperate climate suitable for karstification. The bedrock is generally composed of volcano-sedimentary rocks. However, limestones suitable for karstification are encountered in some places as around of Basaran village. Brown forest soils are widespread in the area. Flat and slightly sloping lands were generally opened to agriculture in the region. In high sloping areas, wide-leaved forests consisting of species such as beech, hornbeam , chestnut and oak dominate the view. In the area, there are wolf, fox, jackal, marten, hedgehog, squirrel and roe deer as wild animals. In addition, you can see flies, spider and bat in the caves. Hayat Cave karst system starts with a fluviokarstic depression which is in the east of Başaran village. Kavaklıgöl Creek which drains the water of the system goes into underground from the swallow holes at the north end of depression. The stream has respectively created two caves while flowing into underground. The Başaran Cave above is dry whereas the Hayat Cave below is active. The creek pours in the Hayat Cave as two little waterfalls, and flows 35 m along the main gallery and then sinks in a swallow holes and disappears. Therefore, the entrance side of the cave is dry. However, the mud levels, the pebbles and blocks in the bed show that the stream empties from the mouth of the cave into the valley during the floods. Inside the caves there are speleothems with high visual appeal. If the caves are opened to tourism, they can contribute to the development and diversification of local tourism.

References

  • Akkan, E. (1970). Geomorphology of Kızılırmak Valley Between Cape Bafra and Delice Junction. Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Ankara.
  • Berndt, C. & Yıldırım, C. & Çiner, A. & Strecker, M. R. & Ertunç, G. & Sarıkaya, M. A.& Özcan, O. & Ozturk, T. & Kiyak, N. G. (2018). Quaternary uplift of the northern margin of the Central Anatolia Plateau: New OSL dates of fluvial and delta-terrace deposits of the Kızılırmak River, Black Sea coast, Turkey. Quaternary Science Reviews, 201, 446-469.
  • Cigna, A.A. (2004). Climate of caves. Encyclopedia of caves and karst science. London: Taylor & Francis, 467-475.
  • Cigna, A.A (2011). Show cave development with special references to active caves. Tourism and Karst Areas 4, 7-16.
  • Cigna, A.A. and Burri, E. (2000). Development, management and economy of show caves. International Journal of Speleology, 29, 1.
  • Ford, D.C. & Williams, P.W. (1989). Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology. Academic Division of Unwin Hyman Ltd, pp. 601, London.
  • Gillieson, D. (1998). Caves: processes, development and management, Blackwell Publishers.
  • Ketin, İ. & Gümüş, O. (1963). Between Sinop and Ayancık III. Report on the Geology of the Areas Included in the Region. TPAO.
  • Nazik, L. & Tuncer, K. (2010). Regional features of Turkey karst morphology. Turkish Journal of Speleology 1, 7-19.
  • Öner, E. (1990) Physical Geography of Samsun and Surroundings, Ph.D. Thesis, Ankara University Ankara.
  • Özkök, H. (2019) Tourism Geography of Derbent Dam Lake and Its Surroundings, Master Thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun
  • Samsun Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate (2020) https://samsun.ktb.gov.tr/TR-240669/hayat-kayasi-magarasi.html (Accessed 5rd February 2020).
  • TSMS (2019). Bafra Meteorology Station Observatory Data. General Directorate of State Meteorology Affairs.
  • Uzun, A. (1995a). Geomorphology of Gerze Alaçam Coastal Region, 1. baskı/Ed., Öz Eğitim.
  • Uzun, A. (1995b). Cave-fortress settlements in Tekkeköy (Samsun). Eastern Geography Magazine 1.
  • Uzun, A. (2004a). Karst morphology of Mount Yaraligöz and its close surrounding, Northern Anatolia, Turkey. In "Proceeding of International Symposium on Earth System Sciences 2004, İstanbul – Turkey", pp. 513-519, İstanbul.
  • Uzun, A. (2004b). Koru Polje and karst landform evolution in the middle part of the Kure Mountains, Northern Anatolia, Turkey. Cave and Karst Science 31, 109-112.
  • Vuković, S., and Antić, A. (2019). Speleological approach for geotourism development in Zlatibor county (West Serbia). Turizam 23, 53-68.
  • Yılmaz, C. (2007). Human and Economic Geography of the Bafra Plain. II. Printing, Kızılırmak Offset, Samsun.

Hayat Mağarası Karst Sistemi (Samsun, TÜRKİYE)

Year 2020, Issue: 5, 87 - 100, 15.10.2020
https://doi.org/10.46453/jader.778432

Abstract

In this study, Hayat Cave karst system was investigated. The research area is included within the borders of Başaran village of Bafra district in Samsun province. The system has original shapes belonging to surface and depth karst. The aim of the study is to investigate the ecological, morphological and speleological features of the Hayat Cave karst system which has not been a subject of any scientific research up to now. The study is mainly based on area observations and measurements. The knowledge obtained from the area and literature was processed in Geographical Information Systems and they were converted into visual materials. The region has a humid and temperate climate suitable for karstification. The bedrock is generally composed of volcano-sedimentary rocks. However, limestones suitable for karstification are encountered in some places as well as around of Basaran village. Brown forest soils are widespread in the area. Flat and slightly sloping lands were generally opened to agriculture in the region. In sloping areas, wide-leaved forests consisting of species such as beech, hornbeam, chestnut and oak dominate the view. In the area, there are wolf, fox, jackal, marten, hedgehog, squirrel and roe deer as wild animals. Flies, spiders and bats can be seen in the caves. Hayat Cave karst system starts with a fluviokarstic depression which is in the east of Başaran village. Kavaklıgöl Creek which drains the water of the system goes into underground from the sinkholes at the north end of depression. The stream has respectively created two caves while flowing into underground. The Başaran Cave above is dry whereas the Hayat Cave below is active. The stream falls into the Hayat Cave and flows 35 m in the main gallery, and then sinking from a sinkhole and disappears. The entrance side of the cave is dry because of this. However, the mud levels, the pebbles and blocks in the bed show that the stream empties from the mouth of the cave into the valley during the floods. Inside the caves there are speleothems with high visual appeal. If the caves are opened to tourism, they can contribute to the development and diversification of local tourism.

References

  • Akkan, E. (1970). Geomorphology of Kızılırmak Valley Between Cape Bafra and Delice Junction. Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Ankara.
  • Berndt, C. & Yıldırım, C. & Çiner, A. & Strecker, M. R. & Ertunç, G. & Sarıkaya, M. A.& Özcan, O. & Ozturk, T. & Kiyak, N. G. (2018). Quaternary uplift of the northern margin of the Central Anatolia Plateau: New OSL dates of fluvial and delta-terrace deposits of the Kızılırmak River, Black Sea coast, Turkey. Quaternary Science Reviews, 201, 446-469.
  • Cigna, A.A. (2004). Climate of caves. Encyclopedia of caves and karst science. London: Taylor & Francis, 467-475.
  • Cigna, A.A (2011). Show cave development with special references to active caves. Tourism and Karst Areas 4, 7-16.
  • Cigna, A.A. and Burri, E. (2000). Development, management and economy of show caves. International Journal of Speleology, 29, 1.
  • Ford, D.C. & Williams, P.W. (1989). Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology. Academic Division of Unwin Hyman Ltd, pp. 601, London.
  • Gillieson, D. (1998). Caves: processes, development and management, Blackwell Publishers.
  • Ketin, İ. & Gümüş, O. (1963). Between Sinop and Ayancık III. Report on the Geology of the Areas Included in the Region. TPAO.
  • Nazik, L. & Tuncer, K. (2010). Regional features of Turkey karst morphology. Turkish Journal of Speleology 1, 7-19.
  • Öner, E. (1990) Physical Geography of Samsun and Surroundings, Ph.D. Thesis, Ankara University Ankara.
  • Özkök, H. (2019) Tourism Geography of Derbent Dam Lake and Its Surroundings, Master Thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun
  • Samsun Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate (2020) https://samsun.ktb.gov.tr/TR-240669/hayat-kayasi-magarasi.html (Accessed 5rd February 2020).
  • TSMS (2019). Bafra Meteorology Station Observatory Data. General Directorate of State Meteorology Affairs.
  • Uzun, A. (1995a). Geomorphology of Gerze Alaçam Coastal Region, 1. baskı/Ed., Öz Eğitim.
  • Uzun, A. (1995b). Cave-fortress settlements in Tekkeköy (Samsun). Eastern Geography Magazine 1.
  • Uzun, A. (2004a). Karst morphology of Mount Yaraligöz and its close surrounding, Northern Anatolia, Turkey. In "Proceeding of International Symposium on Earth System Sciences 2004, İstanbul – Turkey", pp. 513-519, İstanbul.
  • Uzun, A. (2004b). Koru Polje and karst landform evolution in the middle part of the Kure Mountains, Northern Anatolia, Turkey. Cave and Karst Science 31, 109-112.
  • Vuković, S., and Antić, A. (2019). Speleological approach for geotourism development in Zlatibor county (West Serbia). Turizam 23, 53-68.
  • Yılmaz, C. (2007). Human and Economic Geography of the Bafra Plain. II. Printing, Kızılırmak Offset, Samsun.
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Physical Geography and Environmental Geology
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ali Uzun 0000-0003-3854-2780

Faruk Aylar 0000-0003-4439-9079

Serkan Gürgöze 0000-0002-3025-2327

Publication Date October 15, 2020
Submission Date August 9, 2020
Acceptance Date September 30, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Issue: 5

Cite

APA Uzun, A., Aylar, F., & Gürgöze, S. (2020). The Hayat Cave Karst System (Samsun, TURKEY). Jeomorfolojik Araştırmalar Dergisi(5), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.46453/jader.778432

Journal of Geomorphological Researches  ( JADER )

Turkish Society for Geomorphology ( www.jd.org.tr )