# İpsaro Hill

The world's only gypsum cave that can be visited: İncirli

Northern Cyprus  İncirli Cave, located on İpsaro Hill, two kilometers southeast of Çınarcık village at the foot of Beşparmak Mountains in TRNC, draws attention as it is the only gypsum cave opened to tourism in the world. The cave, which is located among about 370 caves in Cyprus and is typically made of gypsum, is 311 meters long, 1-7 meters wide at different points, and the ceiling height, which is said to vary according to the phases of the moon, is between half and 6 meters. The height of the last point of the cave reaches 14 meters. This part is also the deepest point of the cave. After the 20-meter-long section at the entrance, there are very short labyrinth corridors extending in various directions. Towards the end of the accessible area, the passage narrows and turns sharply, providing a labyrinth-like tour of small corridors that split into dark corners and rock formations swept upward with graceful curves. After going about 60 meters, the second and at the same time the last part of the cave is reached. It is dangerous and forbidden to go further than this part, which is covered with blocks that have fallen from the ceiling. The interior of İncirli Cave, which was opened to visitors after only 70 meters of it was strengthened and illuminated, is in a natural air-conditioning coolness. Since it has a constant temperature of 18-19 degrees throughout the year, it feels warm in winter and cool in summer. Incirli Cave, which has the characteristic features of the Quaternary relief system, is a completely natural geographical formation apart from the steps at the entrance. The cave has a hooked and latticed structure due to the lithological features of the gypsum and the dense cracks that intersect each other. Especially the last sections consist of galleries and corridors that are connected to each other in the form of labyrinths. The stalactites and stalagmites in the İncirli Cave, which is 2 meters high, are composed of gypsum (gypsum in its crystalline aqueous form, a soft and crystalline mineral whose chemical synthesis is calcium sulfate). Rough stalactites hang from the ceiling, while smooth stalagmites rise from the ground. Unique cauliflower-like formations consisting of white mineral on the side walls, columns reaching up to the ceiling, sandstone rock formations and prismatic crystal-like mineral veined walls add a distinctive beauty to the only well-known gypsum topography cave in Northern Cyprus. The gypsum layer is 5 million years old According to geological studies, the formation age of the gypsum layer of İncirli Cave is 5 million years, and the structural evolution of the bed up to the present stage is 1.5-2 million years old. The formation of the cave has a history of 150-200 thousand years. Discovered by two mischievous kids The cave, which is one of the main tourist attractions of Cyprus, takes its name from the fig tree at the entrance. According to the common rumor spoken in the village of Çınarlı, two children stealing fruit from a garden to the south of the cave, while waiting for the evening to come under the fig tree at the cave gate, one of the pomegranates they stole rolls into the cave's mouth and disappears under the fig tree. The children start looking for the pomegranate and when they look more carefully under the tree, they see an entrance in the rock. They realize that the lost pomegranate has fallen into this hollow. One of them enters the slit to get the pomegranate. Surprised by the sight he sees, the boy returns to the village with his friend after exploring the surroundings and tells everyone what he has seen. Thereupon, the villagers become aware of the existence of the cave. In 1995, the cave was opened with the efforts of the village headman. However, it takes until the 2000s to bring the most important geological cave of the island to tourism. The cave, which was illuminated in 2003 and paved in 2005, now serves at the desired level. Incirli Cave, which is one of the frequent destinations of TRNC people, foreign tourists and schools, is open to visitors every day except Wednesdays.