A cave or cavern is a naturally formed underground space inside the ground usually formed due to the wearing out of the underlying rocks as a result of a chemical reaction with the circulating ground water. Most caves are characterized by their huge extent of depth underneath the ground and they have very cold temperatures underneath. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is home to so many of these naturally formed caverns and boast of having some of the best caves / caverns in the world. The upsides of the caves are they act as resources for natural drainage systems and drinking water, habitats of wildlife and lastly recreational places. Before I list the very best caves in the MENA region we need to be aware of some of the jargon associated with the caves / caverns, first ‘stalactite’ is a term used to refer to the structures hanging from top of the ceiling of a cave, three of the largest stalactites in the world can be found in Mexico and Lebanon, second you must know that ‘stalagmites’ grow from the cave floor.
Are Caves safe for exploring?
Caving can sometimes turn very dangerous if an unexpected natural calamity like flooding, falling rocks occurs during the expedition, besides these natural disasters physical exhaustion can also land you in extensive danger. Do your homework well in advance before your caving activity, always learn about the landscape of the cave from reliable sources and make sure that the cave you will be expediting is safe enough without any natural threats for your recreation. Let me now quickly walk you through the very best caves that are located in the MENA region.
Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
Jieta Grotto is an underground limestone rock formation that is located in Nahr Al Kalb valley, encompassing two interconnected limestone cave formations that run to an extent of 9KM. This cavern is founded in 1958 by Lebanese speleologists, the Jeita Grotto is a popular attraction for having the world’s largest known Stalactite in the upper galleries of its cavern. The cave lies about 300 meters above the sea level and also act as a tunnel for an underground river.
Dhal Al Misfir, Qatar
This natural cave formation is an iconic landmark located in the Rawdat Rasid area of Qatar, although not the very best in our list of caves it is worth expediting to discover the fibrous gypsum crystals found inside this cave.
Sannur Cave, Egypt
Sannur Cave is a limestone cave that was actually a discovery that was made after blasting a quarry, located 10 km south east of the city of Beni Suef and lies about 200 km from the city of Cairo. The cave was discovered in 1989 and is a natural reserve for limestone.
Caves of Hercules, Morocco
The Caves of Hercules is located 14 km west of Tangier in Cape Spartel, Morocco, the intriguing thing about these cave is half of it is naturally formed and the other half is manmade. This is a popular tourist attraction and lies very close to the palace of the king of Morocco, legend has it that the Greek mythological hero Hercules made an overnight stay in this place before doing his twelfth labor given to him by King Eurystheus of Tiryns.
Ali Sadr Cave, Iran
Head to this mind-blowing cave located in Ali Sadr Kabudarahang county about 100 km north of Hamadan for a one-of-a-kind unique cave experience, get breathtaking views of the inside of this water cave while taking a boat ride in the waterway of the cave. We highly recommend this for your cave adventure.
Cave of seven sleepers, Turkey
The Cave of the seven sleepers in Turkey is another popular tourist attraction for caving, located in Turkey, this cave will interest both Christians and Muslims, Legend has it that the seven Christian boys took shelter in this cave for 309 years to escape persecution from the Roman Emperor Trajan. Interestingly Quran also has a record of the seven Christian boys and they are referred as “People of the cave” where they are believed to have fallen asleep with their dog and subsequently died naturally inside this cave.
Ain Heet, Saudi Arabia
Photo Courtesy: splendidarabia.com
Ain Heet Cave is located in the outskirts of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, has an underground lake where you can indulge yourself in underwater sports like scuba diving and snorkeling, the Ain Heet Cave boasts of having crystal clear waters for your outdoor water adventures. We highly recommend this destination for your caving holiday.
