"The one who goes does not return! Turkey's most mysterious region."

24.12.2025 11:45

In the Giden Gelmez Mountains, which are the subject of many legends on the borders of Antalya and Konya, sharp rocky pits with depths exceeding 100 meters, vertical caves, and cliffs have been observed.

The Giden Gelmez Mountains, located on the borders of Akseki district in Antalya and Seydişehir district in Konya, draw attention with their challenging geographical conditions, including cliffs reaching up to 100 meters, vertical caves, and sinkholes. Mustafa Ünal, one of the important nature explorers and mountaineers in the region, captured images of the dangerous pits formed by sharp cliffs.

"IF YOU FALL, YOU CAN'T COME BACK"

Ünal, who stated that 3/4 of the Giden Gelmez Mountains are within the borders of Akseki and 1/4 within the borders of Seydişehir, said, "I have been going to these mountains for years. Firstly, there are a lot of deep pits. The name probably comes from there. Because when the snow covers the space between two rocks, the likelihood of falling down is very high. If you go down, you can't come back anyway. Because the rocks are very sharp," he said.

The one who goes does not return! Turkey's most mysterious region

WILDLIFE IS VERY RICH

Ünal explained that the Giden Gelmez Mountains have a very challenging geography and are also rich in wildlife, stating, "There are bears living there, and there are quite a few mountain goats. There are wolves. You can't roam in the middle areas, but wild boars can be seen in the edge and coastal areas. There are lynxes. There are foxes. The average altitude is around 2,000 to 2,200 meters. But it is a rugged terrain overall," he said.

PITS REACHING 100 METERS

Ünal pointed out that the pits and cliffs in this mountain can even reach 100 meters, noting that there are vertical caves and sinkholes in the mountain. He mentioned that he lives in Seydişehir and goes to those mountains at least once a week, saying, "I have been exploring these mountains in the Antalya-Konya border region for about 20 years. There is almost no spring left that we haven't drunk from, we roam path by path," he said.

The one who goes does not return! Turkey's most mysterious region
The one who goes does not return! Turkey's most mysterious region

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