Nature / Canyon
Şuğul Valley
Gürün, Sivas
A canyon valley west of Gürün carved by the Şuğul Deresi, which joins the Tohma Çayı, also containing Late Hittite rock inscriptions.
Safety warning
Its story
The Şuğul Valley, about 6 km from the Gürün district center, is a canyon of about 7 km along the Şuğul Deresi (Şuğul Creek), which rises on Gövdeli Dağı and joins the Tohma Çayı. Sheer cliffs, spring waters seeping from the rocks, caves and willows along the stream are the valley's distinctive features. On granite rocks near the valley entrance are two Late Hittite inscriptions of six and four lines written in Luwian hieroglyphs, the second being a copy of the same text; first noticed by Charles Wilson in 1879, the inscriptions tell of a settlement founded by Runtiya, king of Malatya (Melid), and are dated to the 12th century BC. The area was registered as a natural protected site in 2021. It is suitable for trekking, photography and nature walks; there are food and drink facilities at the entrance.
Key facts
- Length
- ~7 km
- Distance
- ~6 km from central Gürün
- Admission
- Free access
- Protection
- Natural protected site (2021)
- Archaeology
- Gürün (Şuğul) Late Hittite inscriptions, 12th century BC
- Visit duration
- 2–3 hours
Trip purpose
- Free
- Photography
- Day trip
- Hiking
- Traveling with kids
Location
38.76330, 37.22346
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://kureansiklopedi.com/tr/detay/sugul-vadisi-9b92e | https://kulturenvanteri.com/yer/gurun-yazitlari/ | https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/9131176117 | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25378248