Karanlık Canyon

Karanlık Canyon (Turkish: Karanlık Kanyon), literally "Dark Canyon", is a deep steep-sided gorge located between the İliç and Kemaliye districts of Erzincan Province, Turkey, formed by Karasu River on the Munzur Mountains.

Karanlık Canyon
Karanlık Kanyon
Karanlık Canyon and Karasu River
Karanlık Canyon Location of the canyon in Turkey.
Length	25 km (16 mi)
Depth	1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Geography
Location	İliç-Kemaliye, Erzincan Province, Turkey
Coordinates	39°16′11.97″N 38°29′51.43″E
Rivers	Karasu River

The Munzur Mountains, which run in about east–west direction, are split by north–south directed narrow valleys formed by streams. The formation in Kemaliye area, created by Karasu River, is called Kemaliye Pass (Turkish: Kemaliye Boğazı). Its part between the Bağıştaş village of İliç and the Dutluca village of Kemaliye is named Karanlık Canyon. The canyon is 25 km (16 mi) long, 1,000 m (3,300 ft) deep and 10–15 m (33–49 ft) wide at the base featuring almost 90% rocky slope gradient.^[1]

The canyon offers outdoor recreational activities such as rock climbing and boat rides.^[2]

References

1. Akpınar, Erdal. "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi'nde Alternatif Turizm Merkezi Olmaya Aday Bir İlçe: Kemaliye" (PDF). Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi (in Turkish). Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
2. "Kemaliye Karanlık Kanyon Eğin Park Turizm Merkezi Ön Fizibilite Raporu" (in Turkish). KEMAV Kemaliye Kültür ve Kalkınma Vakfı. Retrieved 3 June 2019.