The hazel nut shells obtained in Turkey is around 120,000 tons per ye ar and they are used only as fuel for domestic purposes. However it can also be used as raw material for the production of some other valuable products such as active carbon. This work concems with the carbonisa- tion of the hazel nut shells and the subseguent activation of the carbon obtained. It was obser- ved that it was possible to obtain micro and macroporosities on the same body by carbonising and activating of the hazel nut shells. It was also observed that a surface area as high as 1200 m^g-1 can be obtained after activation with carbon dioxide to 10-15 % burn-off.