Heaven & Hell Sinkholes

Heaven & Hell Sinkholes

In the Mersin Province of Turkey, there are two sinkholes known as Cennet (Heaven) and Cehennem (Hell), which have become popular tourist destinations due to their impressive size and unique characteristics.

Heaven & Hell Sinkholes

Cennet measures 250 x 110 square meters (820x360 square feet) and has an average depth of 70 meters (230 feet). Visitors can descend to the bottom of the cave via 300 steps, where they can explore a smaller cave at a depth of around 15 meters. This smaller cave features an underground stream that flows towards Narlıkuyu Bay. At the entrance of Cennet, there is a church built in honor of the Virgin Mary by an individual named Paulus, for whom no surname is given. The apse of the church was adorned with frescoes during the 12th century AD, although much of the artwork has since eroded.

Cehennem, on the other hand, is a deeper sinkhole with a depth of 128 meters (420 feet). Its top opening has an area of 70 x 50 square meters (210 x 150 square feet), which is smaller than the surface area. The upper edge of the opening curves inwards, making it impossible to access what lies below. According to legend, Zeus briefly held Typhon in Cehennem before imprisoning him under Mount Etna.