Rare Limestone Cave Discovered in Galil

Researchers from Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority and the Cave Research Center have come upon a rare cave containing beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

The cave is somewhere in the Galil, but the exact location is not being made public yet, to avert injuries or vandalism.

“It is rather exciting and thrilling, yet unfortunately, it seems at this point that we cannot open [the cave] to the public because of its characteristics and small size,” said Shai Koren, director of the Lower Galil Nature and Parks Authority.
“We cannot give the exact location because it is dangerous at this time. Additionally, I will note that the stalactites and stalagmites are protected as nature by law, and therefore must not be damaged.”

Dr. Inon Shivtiel of the Cave Research Center said the authorities have set about documenting and mapping the site to prepare a plan for its conservation.

Stalactites – which hang from the cave’s ceiling like great rock icicles, and stalagmites, the deposited formations on the floor – are the result of water that slowly enters the limestone through small cracks.

There are over 1,200 caves in Israel, although researchers believe thousands more remain undiscovered.