Yerkopru

One of our most valuable assets is situated in the province of Konya 116 km south-west of Hadim and on the river Goksu. This area is called "Yerkopru" where the Goksu River passes through a 500 metres long cave. Yerkopru is a natural bridge over the river formed of travertines.

Travertines are the result of limestone or a calcium carbonate compound melting in a carbon acid solution producing a perforated entity. This is most frequently seen in Antalya.

The Yerkopru travertine bridge is a natural phenomenon resulting from a landslide from both the right and left banks of the Goksu River. The landslide rubble blocked the front of the right bank gave rise to a calcareous tuft travertine which together formed a bridge.

What gives Yerkopru its remarkable beauty is that the Karasu spring both at its entrance and exit plunges over the travertine plateau into the Goksu bed with a 20 m drop. Thick vegetation grows over the Yerkopru at the spot where the waterfall flows and continues to grow both at the entrance and exit. This growth is today expanding rapidly.

To reach the Yerkopru cave from the Goksu river one enters at an altitude of 800 m. A syphon just near the mouth obstructs the entrance to the cave. (This means that the syphon mingles with the water at the ceiling of the cavern thereby closing it. Further on the ceiling is higher. Cave explorers can cross this section by diving if the water is deep enough). As will be seen from the sketch the section which is impassable is quite short. If it is desired to visit the cavern in a rubber dinghy, it is recommended that entry be from the exit. However due to its present untouched state only experienced speleologists should attempt to visit the cave. A winding staircase will enable tourists to take a boat trip in the cave on the "lake" formed here by the Goksu river. In the case of the Heaven and Hell Caves near Narlikuyu (Dilek). when opened to tourism a similar staircase was built.

The Yerkopru cave is a 2-hour drive from Konya and thus it could become a popular picnic and recreation spot. As it is also situated on flat ground, it is ideal for swimming-pools.

How to get to Yerkopru:
There are two routes and today they can both be covered by tourist buses.

Route 1: Turning south after 60 km on the Konya-Karaman highway to Karasinir village plus a further 11 km=71 km. Between Karasinir-Yerkopru is a good road. At the 82nd km you pass Karaagzi village and at 92nd km Habiller, after which one descends into the Goksu valley. At the Yerkopru-Goksu hydroelectric plant, 111 km distant, bearing right, Yerkopru is reached.

Route 2: After following the Konya-Hadim highway 121 km, turn at the Aladag sign, 10 km before Hadim in an easterly direction. Ten km before the road parts a very good gravel road 29 km long takes you to Yerkopru. Even though this road is a little longer, it is preferable.

The Goksu river first disappears underground and then reappears in the Taurus, and again before reaching Yerkopru, in the area of Bozkir. The last 5 km to this area is reached on foot about 25 km south of Bozkir via Bozkir-uçpinar district in the south-west direction of Dedemli and near Dolhanlar village to Gokdere a source of the Goksu. A landslide from the left bank of the waters swelled, caused, through their pressure, a cavern to be formed on the right shore as the big fissure in the limestone expanded as a result of both mechanical and chemical erosion. Thus the stream which disappears underground at 1500 m, after traveling underground for 800 m, rises from the depths 1460 m later in the form of a boiling Vaucluse type spring.