Akhayat sinkhole  Akhayat (also known as Aşağı Dünya Obruğu) is a sinkhole in Mersin Province, Turkey. The Akhayat Sinkhole is located in a rural area of the Silifke ilçe (district), to the north of Atayurt town. Its visitors (if there are any) are often from Mersin, and to get to the sinkhole site they follow the Turkish state highway . As for tourism nowadays, it isn't a particularly popular sight, as there is hardly any touristic activity apart from people driving past and see it out of their window, but the Silifke governor mentioned that the site will soon be opened to tourism. There are other, more popular sinkholes in the area, such as Cennet and Cehennem; compared to those, Akhayat is relatively less known. The sinkhole is situated to the north of Atayurt town in the rural area of Silifke district. Its distance to Silifke is  Visitors from Mersin follow Turkish state highway for and the road to north for and finally a path for . Its dimensions are about 100 x 150 m2 ( 330 x 490 ft2) Its maximum depth with respect to surrounding is . There is a rock carved ancient ladder on the north west side. But a part of the ladder has been demolished and descending by using the ladder is dangerous. There are several man made caves on the walls of the sinkhole. west of the sinkhole there are traces of an ancient settlement which was probably a cult center. It is thought that the sinkhole and the settlement were probably related to each other. There are rock tombs and altars to the south of the sinkhole   There are other sinkholes in Mersin Province such as Cennet and Cehennem system and Kanlıdivane. Akhayat is relatively less known. Although it is possible to visit the site presently there is no touristic activity. But Silifke governor said that the site will be opened to tourism.