Jeoloji Münendisliği Dergisi

Geology and Formation of Yazkonağı Cave (Ünye-Ordu)

ABSTRACT: The Black Sea Region has a rich karstic cave potential. Some of these caves especially located the Eastern Black Sea Region have been assessed as tourism potential. Yazkonaðý Cave locates in 4 kilometers south of Ünye (Ordu) in the Eastern Black Sea Region. The cave forming underground system and located bottom of Pliocene erosion level was formed in Last Cretecaus-Paleocene aged unit consisting of limestone sandy limestone, sandstone and claystones and through the east-west directed vertical fault. Entrance of Yazkonaðý Cave with 900 meters length is located 85 meters altitude from sea level and 30 meters altitude from valley basin and it is about 900 meters. Yazkonaðý Cave divides in to two different parts according to entrance point. Direction of the main gallery is toward the south at first from the entrance and changes direction toward to west and it is narrow and has high altitude. The second gallery of the cave, in the contrary of main gallery, is toward to the northwest and it changes toward to the west. This gallery is better than main gallery considering the touristical features because it has different travertine forms and it is larger than main gallery. Although some structural conditions, the cave is very nice because there is a cavity with 8 meters diameter and 26 meters height in central part of the cave and there is a waterfall and groundwater flowing in this cavity.