The sinkholes, mostly located in the Karapınar district of Konya, have become the focus of attention with their shapes over time.
The sinkholes, viewed from the air with a drone, are sometimes formed in a settlement and sometimes in the fields. There are about 350 in different sizes in the Konya Plain.
Çıralı Pothole, located in the northwest of Karapınar district, stands out with its 17,500 square meter surface area. The sinkhole, which is 35 kilometers away from the town center, also contains traces of life before Christ. In the examinations made, it is observed that there are also man-made caves inside the sinkhole.
Prof. Dr. Tahir Nalbantçılar, Konya Technical University, Department of Geological Engineering Lecturer, said that “although they are referred to as “feared natural disasters”, sinkholes can come to the fore with their natural beauties over time. The sinkholes can be opened to tourism if necessary precautions are taken. In fact, the sinkholes in Konya are among the few geological structures in the world. There is a phenomenon called ‘geotourism’ in the world. Although it is not very developed in Turkey, it is possible to visit the geological environments for tourism purposes. If precautions are taken, these places can be brought to tourism with observation terraces. There are examples around the world. Mountaineering, climbing, and even canoeing in sinkholes with water are also available.”