A breathtaking stalactite cave has been discovered during construction work in the Jerusalem Hills, representatives of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and researchers from the Cave Research Unit of the Geology Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced Saturday. Because the entrance to the cave still poses a danger, the site's precise location was not reported. The cave was discovered after boulders at the construction site were blasted apart, revealing a large pit. When experts from the Nature and Parks Authority went in with flashlights, they found the stalactite cave, which is currently being explored and mapped. Initial measurements indicated that the cavern is 200 meters (660 feet) long and its large rooms feature different types of stalactites. Uri Naveh, deputy head of the INPA's central district, said he was pleased about the discovery: "While this isn't a rare find, it's definitely an interesting one," he said, adding that thorough investigation had helped the researchers assess what processes took place there from ancient times onward, such as a drought of several years. "Each stalactite develops over the course of hundreds to millions of years, so our evaluation provides complicated data. It looks like the activity in this cave took place continually for millions of years. If it's worth preserving, we'll preserve it," Naveh said. Stalactites and stalagmites are geological phenomena that occur when limestone builds up over a period of years. Stalactite caves are important to the water system in mountainous areas because spring water flows through some of them. Causing damage to stalactites or stalagmites is prohibited by law. A year ago, another stalactite cave was discovered during construction work near the Tzofim settlement in the Judean hills. Experts estimated that the stalactites there were approximately a million years old. The Natures and Parks Authority has invited the public to visit the Avshalom Cave, near Beit Shemesh, to learn about stalagmites and stalactites up close.
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Stunning stalactite cave discovered in Jerusalem hills
Blasting during routine construction work revealed a deep pit; researchers from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Cave Research Unit at Hebrew University are busy exploring, mapping • Precise location a secret as entrance is still dangerous.