Salt Mountain in eastern Türkiye to host underground book, culture festival

By Huseyin Yildiz and Sabri Sarcan

IGDIR, Türkiye (AA) - Salt Mountain in Türkiye's eastern Igdir province will host a book, culture, and children’s festival 80 meters (262 feet) underground from Sept. 11-15.

One of Eastern Anatolia’s largest salt reserves, located in the Tuzluca district, the mountain is a unique tourism site shaped by centuries of salt mining.

The festival, called "Tuzluca Fest," is being organized by the Igdir governorship and the local governor’s office.

Authors and sand artists are among the participants at the five-day event, which will feature book promotions, a children’s carnival, and children’s theater performances. All activities will take place 80 meters (262 feet) below the surface.

“Inside our Salt Cave, we will organize Türkiye’s first book, culture, and children’s festival,” Abdullatif Yilmaz, the district governor of Tuzluca, told Anadolu.

Yilmaz said the festival will bring together nearly 50 publishing houses, along with book stands, children's activities, and cultural events.

“Our main goal is to highlight the health benefits of the rock salt inside the cave, while also combining it with the spiritual benefits of books, creating a wonderful atmosphere,” he added.

The event aims to promote the Salt Caves and attract more visitors to the region, Yilmaz said, adding that he hopes to make the festival an annual event.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan