Dont vote for me ... VOTE FOR JEITA GROTTO!
Voting has taken a different color: the time has come to vote for JEITA Grotto to become one of the world's seven wonders - a true national pride.
Jeita Grotto
The Jeita Grotto (Arabic: مغارة جعيتا) is a compound two separate but interconnected karstic limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836 by Reverend William Thomson; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese.
In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper galleries 60 metres (200 ft) above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourists safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world's largest stalactite. The galleries are composed of a series of chambers the largest of which peaks at a height of 120 metres (390 ft).
Aside from being a Lebanese national symbol and a top tourist destination, the Jeita grotto plays an important social, economic and cultural role and is a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.
The Jeita cave is situated at the center of the western flanks of the Lebanon mountains, more specifically in the Nahr al-Kalb valley, its natural entrance is about 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level. It's located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the Mediterranean coastline and 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of Beirut within the confines of the municipality of Jeita, in the caza of Keserwan.
Upper cave
The Jeita upper cave has an overall length of 2,130 metres (6,990 ft) of which only 750 metres (2,460 ft) are accessible to visitors via a specially conceived walkway; access to the remainder of the cave was restricted to prevent ecological damage which may occur due to the flocking tourists. The upper cave contains a great concentration of a variety of crystallized formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, mushrooms, ponds, curtains and draperies. The upper gallery is famous for its formations, lit by an effective lighting system. It is entered through a 117 metres (384 ft) long concrete tunnel. The part accessible by visitors has three huge chambers. The first is called White Chamber, the second Red Chamber, due to the color of the formations. White dripstones are pure calcite without defilement, the red color is given by iron oxide (rust) in small amounts. In Lebanon iron oxide has a red color instead of the brown beige color which is common in northern countries. The reason is a different chemical reaction caused by the high temperature which produces a different kind of iron oxide. The White Chamber is medium sized, but has the most impressive formations of the cave. The Red Chamber is up to 106 metres (348 ft) high, and 30 metres (98 ft) to 50 metres (160 ft) wide. The third chamber is the biggest of all three chambers and has a height of more than 120 metres (390 ft).[6] The longest stalactite in the world is located in Jeita's White Chamber; it measures 8.2 metres (27 ft) long.
Lower cave
The lower gallery which has an overall length of 6,200 metres (20,300 ft) is located 60 metres (200 ft) below the upper gallery. It is traversed by a smooth underwater river and a lake (the "Dark Lake"). The river is broken up by several small cataracts and rapids. The lower cave's "Thompson's Cavern", is a massive hall with impressive speleothems such as the Eagle Obelisk stalagmite. Other halls in the lower gallery include the Pantheon, Grand Chaos and Shangri-la. Visitors are transported in the lower gallery by electric boats for a distance of 500 metres (1,600 ft). In winter the lower level is closed, when the water level is too high.
مغارة جعيتا
مغارة جعيتا هي عبارة عن مغارة ذات تجاويف وشعاب ضيقة، وردهات وهياكل وقاعات نحتتها الطبيعة، وتسربت إليها المياه الكلسية من مرتفعات لبنان لتشكل مع مرور الزمن عالماً من القباب والمنحوتات والأشكال والتكوينات العجيبة. يعتبرها اللبنانيون جوهرة السياحة اللبنانية، وقد توالى على اكتشافها عبر التاريخ رواد أجانب ومغامرون لبنانيون.
تقع مغارة جعيتا بوادي نهر الكلب على بعد نحو 20 كلم شمال بيروت، وتتكون من طبقتين، الطبقة أو المغارة العليا والمغارة السفلى.
تقع مغارة جعيتا بوادي نهر الكلب على بعد نحو 20 كلم شمال بيروت، وتتكون من طبقتين، الطبقة أو المغارة العليا والمغارة السفلى.
المغارة العليا:
افتتحت المغارة العليا منها في يناير 1969، بعد أن تم اكتشافها عام 1958 وتأهيلها للزيارة على يد المهندس والفنان والنحات اللبناني غسان كلينك. وذلك في احتفالية موسيقية أقيمت داخلها اعدها خصيصاً لهذه المناسبة الموسيقار الفرنسي فرنسوا بايل. وشهدت المغارة العليا بعد فترة مهرجاناً موسيقياً مماثلاً في شهر نوفمبر من العام عينه، عزفت فيه مقطوعات عالمية للموسيقار الألماني كارل هاينز شتوكهاوزن. وتتميز هذه الطبقة من المغارة بأنها تمنح زوارها متعة السير على الاقدام لمسافة، بعد عبور نفق يبلغ طوله حوالي 120 متر، ليطل في الممرات بعد ذلك على الأقبية العظيمة الارتفاع، والموزعة فيها الأغوار بالإضافة إلى الصواعد والهوابط والاعمدة الكلسية وما إليها من اشكال مبهرة.
المغارة السفلى:
يعود تاريخ اكتشاف الجزء السفلي من المغارة إلى ثلاثينات القرن ال19 مع رحلة للمبشر الاميركي وليام طومسون. وكان طومسون قد توغل فيها حوالي 50 متراً. وبعد أن اطلق النار من بندقية الصيد التي كان يحملها وأدرك من خلال الصدى الذي احدثه صوت إطلاق النار أنه للمغارة امتداداً جوفياً على جانب كبير من الاهمية.
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