G-02 The stalagmites of the Sofular Cave contain climatic records from about 700,000 years ago to the present. These stalagmites have been studied in detail since 2006 to reveal paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental records in high resolution. These records not only reveal data on climatic changes and dating of glacial/interglacial periods, but also provide important information about major changes in the hydrology of the Black Sea. Oxygen isotope data from the Sofular Cave stalagmites are used as reference values to develop the sedimentary history of the Black Sea. The oxygen isotope values obtained from the core deposits from the Black Sea and the Sofular stalagmites are compared with each other and thus, old climate changes are revealed. The climatic records in the Sofular cave are also used to study recent human-climate relationships and to date in detail the traces of the environmental impact of the famous Thera eruption, for example, 3600 years ago.

Today, Sofular Cave and its stalagmites are an indispensable key site for climatic research in Turkey and beyond. Data from the cave are considered by the paleoclimate study community to be key-records worldwide. In addition to all these, the Sofular cave is also used as a natural laboratory to monitor the changes related to the current discharge and filling of groundwater and to measure the response of the cave to global warming.

Sofular cave is also important in terms of bat colonies it hosts. Bat species Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus blasii, Myotis bechsteinii, Eptesicus serotinus were recorded in the cave. Due to the bat colonies it contains, the cave has been defined as an 'Important Natural Area' by the Nature Association. Another important feature of the cave in terms of biodiversity is that it hosts a hibernating mouse colony (Glis glis).