GEOPARK POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF TINAZTEPE CAVE AND ITS SURROUNDING
There have been formations upon the earth’s crust that attract attention of people in terms of their features. Those formations are named as geosit or geopark geologically and geomorphologically and have been taken under protection. Those areas that have been taken under protection within the scope of natural heritage are geographical protected areas for both carrying out some scientific researches and socio-economic development. Every passing day, such protected areas have been discovered in our country and put into service of human. One of the areas that have that kind of potential is Tınaztepe Cave and its surrounding. Tınaztepe Cave and its surrounding takes place in 20 km southeast of Seydisehir (Konya) county town. The site contains formations that can be qualified as geologically-geomorphologically natural monuments within itself. Especially, it has the quality of open-air museum where both karstic erosion and accumulation features can be seen together. However, this open-air museum has been exposed to destruction for any reasons such as massing rubbish that come off because of the operation of bauxite ore deposit, Seydisehir-Antalya road extension work and inadequacy of protection precautions. In this study, it has been aimed to protect, publicize and offer Tınaztepe Cave and its surrounding to tourism analyzing the site in geopark criteria.

Keywords
Gidengelmez, Tınaztepe Cave, Karstic Features, Natural Monument.