Geomythology in the Central Taurus Mountains (Mersin-Southern Türkiye): Intertwining Geological Formations and Cultural Heritage

The Taurus Mountains, which constitute the high-southern part of Türkiye, are mainly made up of variously aged, karstified soluble carbonate rocks. In addition to eroding the terrain, groundwater and streams from these mountains contribute in the formation of important fluvial-deltaic-coastal deposits along the Mediterranean Sea. Legends pertaining to the geology of the area that have been recorded on the websites of the Mersin Culture and Tourism Directorates and other public and private organizations are examined in this study. The Taurus Mountains are home to a wide variety of karst landforms of all sizes and shapes because of the region’s humid climate and and the intensely fractured-jointed nature of the rocks. In the Mersin region in Central Taurus, four distinct kinds of geomyths have been identified: sinkhole related geomyths; karstic cave related geomyths; special shaped structures related geomyths; coast related geomyth. Some of them have been related with Zeus during the Hellenistic period (Cennet and Cehennem sinkholes), utilized as cave churches in the Early Christian era (Aya Thekla Monastery, Al-Oda Monastery), or linked to Islamic elements (Adamtaş Rocks and Eshab-ı Kehf Cave). Furthermore, only a few characteristics coastal landscapes are linked to coastal changes. Collectively, these formations demonstrate the presence of a geomythological landscape deeply integrated with the Mersin Province’s cultural heritage. The assessment of these formations as a geopark holds significant potential for the development of sustainable tourism in the region.