BALLICA CAVE
The Ballıca Cave is one of the world’s biggest and most fascinating caves. 680 meters long and 95 meters high, the cave has eight halls that have recently been opened for visit. This natural wonder maintains to keep its mystery through sections that have not yet been opened to visitors and those that have not been discovered.   

To observe the formations of the Ballıca Cave is like going through a natural museum … The cave is estimated to be approximately 3.4 million years old. In addition to all the characteristics one would normally expect in caves, it is famous internationally with its Onion Formed Stalactites (Soğan Stalactites). Every step taken in the sections open to visitors is like going on a mysterious journey filled with amazement and excitement…
                                              
The Ballıca Cave is located 26 km southwest of Tokat in Ballıca Village in the Township of Pazar, 1,085 meters above the sea level. It is at the end of an 8-km-long road going through the township. The road runs past a Seljuk Era Bridge that connects it to the Ancient Kings Road (Kral Yolu). The Mahperi Sultan Caravansary, built in 1238 and started to be restorated in 2006, is also on this road.

Research and mapping of  the cave began in 1987. This was followed in 1995 with the construction of walkways and lighting. There are eight halls, occured by crystallized limestone, that are open to visitors. The cave has an average temperature of 18 oC and humidity of 54 %. Its abundant oxygen facilitates breathing.

The Pool Hall
The Pool Hall is located on the right of the entrance. Its high temperature (20 oC) and low humidity has resulted in calcite crystal dripstones emerging from a raised flaky surface. Inside the hall is a rectangular structure built with grout. The existence of this structure shows that the cave was used in the past. 

The Great Stalactites Hall
The Pool Hall, opens into the The Great Stalactites Hall, the widest area of the cave, through a narrow passageway consisting of columns and stalactites. The columns with broken lines throughout indicate a linear structure. The small pools in the hall are covered with cave pearls. The level of humidity in the hall is high and there is four times as much oxygen there as in the open air. The huge stalactites and stalagmites, and the colors of red, yellow, green and blue compose a magnificent view. The walkway stretching away from this grand chamber towards the north and northeast goes to the Muddy Hall, the Fossil Hall and the Bats Hall.

The Muddy Hall
The hall reached through a horizontal passage, consists of a blocks, stalactites, stalagmites and small pools.

The Fossil Hall
Located at the highest point in the cave, the temperature of the hall reaches 24oC and the peremptory  humidity is 40 %. It is one of the oldest chambers in the cave.

The Bats Hall
The Bats Hall comprised of stalactites, cave roses, cave needles, and dripstones, is home to the Dwarf Bats. One of the young halls of the cave, it is 25 - 35 meters in length and 8 - 20 meters wide and can only be reached by rope.

The Debris Hall
The Debris Hall is connected to the gallery named as the Grand Gallery, which is situated in the North – South direction of the cave. The hall gets its name from the huge blocks situated on the floor. The deep wells between the blocks are connected to one another at the lower levels of the cave. The borders of the calcite formations that hang three meters from the ceiling indicate the past level of the ground water.

The Columns Hall
Following the Debris Hall and the Cellar of Blocks is the Columns Hall, reached via a bridge. The cave’s largest column, which is 18 meters height and 8 meters in diameter, located in this hall. The columns of this hall compose a view of a huge gallery that’s been divided into rooms. The height of the ceiling of this hall reaches 15 meters at some points.

Dividing into two, the walkway reaches the Mushroom Hall in north and the New Hall in south.

The Mushroom Hall
This hall gets its name from its mushroom-shaped stalagmites and huge onion-like stalactites, which compose an amazing view. The most beautiful examples of dripstone stalactites are in this hall.

The New Hall  
The youngest hall of the cave is the New Hall, where, in addition to the large stalactites, stalagmites and pools, there are leave, curtain and leek formed stalactites compose a fascinating image. At the end of the hall there is the siphon where the water of the cave flows through into the lake at 65 meters deep. At the last section to be seen young Onion Formed Stalactites amazing with the colors and forms they have.