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Hidden in the highlands of Türkiye’s Erzincan province, a natural refrigeration system carved by nature itself continues to shape rural life in the Ayranpinar village.
For generations, villagers have relied on deep, cold ice caves to preserve thousands of kilograms of cheese: without electricity, machinery or modern cold storage systems.
Located approximately 61 kms from the Erzincan city center, the caves maintain consistently low temperatures year-round, making them an ideal natural storage environment. Locals place cheese in sacks and store the bags inside the caves, where they are kept from May until October before being brought out for winter consumption.
Village residents state that the practice has been sustained across generations. They note that in previous years, individuals from neighboring villages also brought their products to be stored in the caves, with total stored quantities reportedly exceeding 20 tonnes.
According to local accounts, cheese preserved in the ice caves develops a distinctive flavor due to the constant temperature and humidity conditions within the natural formation.
Historically, the area is also known to have functioned as a regional trade point.
Before the development of modern transport infrastructure, goods were transported to the village by mule caravans, and the ice caves reportedly played an important role in storage and commerce.
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