With an approximate number of 40.000 caves and caverns present, Turkey is like a ' paradise of caverns ' when compared to other countries.
An important geologic - geomorphologic fact in the formation of caverns is karstification (karstic fields) and this karstification is present in Western and Central Taurus Mountains (Mugla, Antalya, Isparta, Burdur, Konya, Karaman, Icel and Adana) of Turkey. The longest (Pınarözü Cavern, 16 km west of Beyşehir Lake) and the deepest (Çukurpınar Sinkhole, 1880 meters at the south of Anamur) caves of Turkey are present on this mountain belt.
In Turkey, the cavern investigations initiated by the Cavern Research Society (MAD) founded in 1964. Later on, the first university club, Bosphorus University Cavern Research Club (BUMAK) has been founded in 1973. In 1979, Karst and Cavern Exploration Unit founded under the authority of MTA Geology Studies Department is executing most of the cavern explorations nowadays.
About one third of Turkey is underlain by carbonate rocks. The intense karstification is spread almost all over Turkey. It is found particularly in the regions of the Taurus Mountain Range, in Northwest Anatolia, in Konya closed basin and in Southeastern Anatolia. Karstification is present both at high altitudes (over 2000 m.) and also it is known to exist at elevations below the sea level, such as Ovacik submarine springs, Kas - Kalkan submarine springs and the Mediterranean region coastal springs.
Turkey is thoroughly located in the Mediterranean sector of the Alpine organic belt. The Alpine orogeny and the following epirogenic movements in Turkey have been important factors in karstification.