Ancient stalactite cave found in northern Israel

Researchers from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority on Wednesday announced the discovery of an ancient stalactite cave in the Lower Galilee.

The cave, whose exact location is being kept under wraps, is relatively small (8 meters long by 4 meters wide) and contains a unique variety of cave corals, stalactites, stalagmites and elephant ear-shaped rocks.

The cave was accidentally discovered by the Quarries Rehabilitation Fund, which was conducting development works in the area. Upon its discovery, Parks Authority's Lower Galilee division manager Shay Koren and member of the Israeli Cave Research Center Yinon Shivtiel arrived at the cave to conduct preliminary tests and examine the findings.

"This is an exciting and riveting discovery, but unfortunately the cave will not be opened to the public due to its nature and small size," Koren said. "Furthermore, we cannot disclose its exact location, as entry is perilous and prohibited at this point."

Stalactites and stalagmites, which are built up by the slow deposit of calcium salts and other minerals -- often limestone -- in dripping water over many thousands of years, are protected by law under the 1956 Israel Plant Protection Law, and harming them is prohibited.

According to Shivtiel, cave corals such as those found in the Galilee stalactite cave are usually created by a karst process, which creates distinct landscapes shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock, usually limestone and dolomite. This geological process has resulted in an unusual surface and subsurface.

"In the coming days we will continue to map and explore the cave, as well as prepare an organized plan for preserving the findings," Shivtiel said.

He also said that the "cave is still active and the stalactite is dripping, which we hope will help its preservation."

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