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JEITA GROTTO

July 31, 2016 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Lebanon

The Jeita Grotto is one of the largest cave systems in the Levant and home to the largest known stalactite in the world.  Inhabited in ancient times, the Jeita caves were forgotten by the world for millennia before being rediscovered in the 19th century.  It is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Lebanon.

There is evidence of human habitation in and around the Jeita cave possibly dating to the Bronze Age.  William Thomson, an American missionary, rediscovered the cave in 1836.  The caves were more thoroughly explored in the 1870s, then later again in the mid-20th century.  Part of the cave system was opened to the public in 1958.  The Jeita Grotto was closed from 1978 to 1995 during the Lebanese Civil War.  The site is currently being further explored, studied for archaeology, and developed for expanded tourism.

The Jeita Grotto is not a huge cave system, with only six or so miles of passages and chambers having been explored.  It is divided into the upper cave, where the world’s largest stalactite can be found, and the lower cave, which is home to a fast flowing underground river and lake.  Due to the lake, which is used as a fresh water reservoir, accessibility to much of the cave to the general public is limited.

The Jeita Grotto is one of the most impressive natural sites in Lebanon.  However, ongoing troubles in the region have kept tourism to the site lower than would be expected.  Despite this the grotto receives over a quarter of a million visitors annually.  Web: www.jeitagrotto.com (official website).

Filed Under: Cave Tagged With: Syria/Jordan/Lebanon

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About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

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Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

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Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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