Geomorphological features and tourism planning of Hasbek Cave (Diyarbakır-Dicle)

Caves are defined as underground spaces that have openings to the surface and are wide and high enough to allow at least one person to crawl in. These underground spaces have played an important role in the social and cultural development of people from past to present. It reflects the geological-geomorphological and hydrographic characteristics of the region in which it is located; The caves, which have unique and interesting karst formations and can be visited at any time of the year, have been the subject of many scientific studies, especially geography and tourism research, in the world and in our country. Hasbek Cave, which was chosen as the subject of this thesis research, is located within the borders of Bozoba neighborhood (village) in Dicle district of Diyarbakır. The cave is 64 km away from Diyarbakır city center and 6 km away from Dicle district center, and transportation to the cave is easy. The cave is located on the south-facing slope of a SW-NE extending anticline axis located in the south of the Southeastern Taurus Mountains. This cave was formed as a result of the growth and expansion of cracks and fissures that emerged within the Lower Miocene aged Euphrates Formation limestones and when two fault lines intersecting on the base of the doline acted as trigger elements. The entrance of the cave is on the floor of a doline at an altitude of 983 meters and has a narrow mouth of 1-1.5 m wide. In terms of its formation, it is included in the Natural Caves-Secondary Caves-Karst Caves class and shows an active cave feature in terms of sediment development. The interior of this cave, which has a length of 95 m in a SE-NW direction, a depth of -18 m and an area of approximately 3235 m², resembles a large square. After reaching the bottom of the cave, a very flat area is encountered. In this cave, which is very rich in cave sediments, dripstone types such as stalactites, stalagmites and columns are frequently encountered. According to the technical principles of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization regarding the detection, registration, protection and use conditions of caves to be determined as natural assets, it is in the "B" class protection status. Since naturally occurring caves of this size are rare in the region where it is located, the cave gains additional importance as a tourist attraction. The natural and cultural tourism capacity of Eğil district, located 7 km south of Hasbek Cave, is relatively developed, and the Kralkızı and Dicle Dams built on Maden Stream and Dipni Stream around the cave also have ecotourism potential. In addition, a youth camp was built by the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality near the Kralkızı Dam and is located very close to the cave. Hasbek Cave can be turned into a tourism destination together with these natural and cultural tourism areas around it and can be brought into tourism by carrying out the necessary work. A detailed literature review has been made about Hasbek Cave, but apart from a paleoclimate and zoology study, no scientific study has been found that deals with the cave in detail. In this regard, the aim of the study is to explain the geomorphological features of the cave in question and to initiate the inclusion of the cave in the relevant literature. It is thought that this situation will further increase the importance of the research. While researching; Many research methods such as field studies, observation, measurement, remote sensing, mapping, geographic information systems (GIS) analysis, geographical data analysis and evaluation have been used. In order to reveal the geological-geomorphological features of the cave more clearly, a plan, section and profile of the cave was created using materials such as laser meter, tape measure, compass and clinometer with the free station technique. Afterwards, various other maps of the cave were drawn and the geomorphological features of the cave were revealed more clearly. While creating various maps, software such as Cave Render Pro, ArcGIS/ArcMap 10.8, Adobe Photoshop CC 2015, Google Earth Pro and HGM Küre were used. All results obtained from this study; It is aimed to determine the geomorphological features of the cave and to contribute it to the literature, as well as to support the cave in gaining tourism value. Keywords: Cave, Geomorphology, Hasbek Cave, Tourism Planning, Diyarbakır