Avshalom Cave

Avshalom Cave

Avshalom Cave ( _he. מערת אבשלום), also known as Soreq Cave or Stalactites Cave ( _he. מערת הנטיפים), is a 5,000 sq m cave in Israel, unique for its dense concentration of stalactites.

The cave was discovered accidentally in May 1968, after the use of explosives during development work, near Har-tov, 3 km east of Bet Shemesh, Israel. It is 83 m long, 60 m wide, and 15 m high.

The cave is named after Avshalom Shoam, an Israeli soldier killed in the War of Attrition. After its discovery, the location of the cave was kept a secret for several years for fear of damage to its natural treasures. The temperature and the humidity in the cave are constant year round, and it is now open for travelers, in the heart of the Avshalom Nature Reserve.

Some of the stalactites found in the cave are four meters long, and some have been dated as 300,000 years old. Some meet stalagmites to form stone pillars. [cite web
title =Avsahlom Cave, Israel Nature & National Parks Protection Authority page
url =http://www.parks.org.il/ParksENG/company_card.php3?CNumber=423314
accessdate=2007-03-14]

References


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