Pınargözü Cave
| Pınargözü Cave | |
|---|---|
| Pınargözü Mağarası | |
| Location | Yenişarbademli, Isparta Province, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 37°41′48″N 31°18′27″E / 37.69667°N 31.30750°E |
| Depth | 720 metres (2,362 ft) |
| Length | 16 kilometres (10 mi) |
| Height variation | 248 metres (814 ft) |
| Elevation | 1,550 metres (5,085 ft) |
| Discovery | 1964 |
| Geology | Limestone karst |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Restricted |
Pınargözü Cave (Turkish: Pınargözü Mağarası, literally "eye of the water"), is a cave 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of the town of Yenişarbademli in Isparta Province, Turkey. It is considered the longest cave in Turkey, although it has not yet been fully explored, and the precise extent to which it has been explored is in dispute.
The entrance is on the slopes of Mount Dedegöl at an elevation of 1,550 metres (5,090 ft), in a forested area of the Kızıldağ National Park. It is easily recognized by the stream of water that pours continuously from its mouth, called the Devre Su. A constant wind of up to 166 km/h (103 mph) blows through the cave's narrow opening due to the chimney effect.
Since its discovery, surveyors have considered the cave extremely difficult to explore, owing to the numerous waterfalls, flooded passages, and traverses within. As a result, it is not included on the list of Turkish caves open to the public. Access is only permitted to approved professionals with appropriate caving gear.