History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore
The Historical Kemaliye Stone Road, which is among the most difficult and dangerous mountain roads in the world, is a monument of superhuman perseverance that was started in 1870 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz so that the local people could overcome the steep rocks of the Euphrates River canyon and reach Central Anatolia. The road carved by villagers and stonemasons with hammers, chisels and dynamite for 132 years along the deep Dark Canyon walls opened by the Karasu River; It was completed in 2002 with 38 tunnels, dozens of rock windows and sharp bends. The Dark Canyon, through which the road passes, has the title of the second deepest canyon in the world, with vertical limestone canyon walls reaching 400-500 meters in some places and emerald green waters at the bottom. Kemaliye historical city and Stone Road, which were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2021, host international nature sports and wingsuit jumps every year. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features
The Euphrates River stretches along the Dark Canyon rift at an altitude of 850 meters. The canyon, which was formed by the Karasu River splitting the limestone layers over millions of years, was named 'Dark Canyon' because sunlight can only reach the valley floor for 1-2 hours a day. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees
•Entrance Fee:Passing through the Historical Stone Road on foot and by vehicle is completely free; River boat tours within the canyon are subject to cooperative tariffs.•Visiting Hours and Days (Mandatory): Open to visitors 7 days a week during daylight hours; During the winter months, caution should be taken against the danger of frost, icing and rockfall.•Rules, Safety and Stroller/Disabled Access: Sturdy walking boots are recommended as the tunnels' floor is naturally stabilized rock; It is mandatory to honk the horn and not speed when passing through single-lane tunnels.•Facilities and Facilities:There are information signs at the beginning of Stone Road and a country garden, tea house and life jacket stations at the Dark Canyon boat dock. Transportation, Public Transit Routes and Exact Location•Address / Open Location:Sandıkbağı & Taşyolu Mevkii, Fırat River Canyon, Kemaliye / Erzincan.•Road Condition and Vehicle Availability: It is 150 km from Erzincan city center and 140 km from Malatya; It is an asphalt road up to Kemaliye district center. Stone Road is suitable for vehicles with high passability, motorcycles and careful passenger vehicles.•Real Public Transportation Information (Mandatory): Kemaliye Travel minibuses departing from Erzincan Bus Terminal in the morning and noon and train connections departing from Divriği provide transportation to the district.•Parking Availability:There is free parking for 50 vehicles at the Dark Canyon boat dock and tunnel entrance pockets. Contextual Experience Tips, Photography and Local Gastronomy•Best Photography Spots and Frames:The view from the tunnel rock windows to the emerald waters of the Euphrates River canyon, the zipline track hanging from the Löbük cliffs into the canyon, and the silhouette of the wooden Eğin houses.•Light and Shooting Hours:Noon hours (11:30 - 13:30) are the golden moment when the sun's rays directly hit the deepest points of the canyon and the color of the water turns emerald green.•Local Gastronomy Recommendations:When visiting Kemaliye, you should definitely try the lokma dessert made from pounded mulberries and walnuts, Eğin kapama, soup rice and the famous Kemaliye dried fruit.