Avshalom Nature Reserve (Stalactite Cave)

Stalactite Cave

As another seam of mountain rock was mined in May of 1968 in Har-Tuv Quarry, a stalactite cave of amazing beauty was discovered. The cave is located on the west slope of the Judean Hills, south of the Soreq Creek. The Soreq Creek gave the cave its second name – Soreq Cave.

The length of the Stalactite Cave is over 90 meters, its width in the widest is around 80 meters, its height varies between 5 meters at the lowest and 15 meters at the tallest spots. The cave is “alive,” the nature is still doing its work, karst processes continue, and many stalactites and stalagmites are still growing. An average temperature of +22°С is maintained in the cave, and relative humidity fluctuates between 92% and 100%.

Romeo and Juliet

Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve is devoted to the memory of Avshalom Shoham. While serving in the military, Avshalom Shoham was badly wounded. For three long years Avshalom was fighting the decease, but eventually failed to overcome it, and died in February of 1974. Avshalom Shoham’s family was historically related to the first settlers in Eretz Yisrael. Avshalom’s family roots go up to the participants of the Bilu movement, founders of Rishon LeZion, Gedera and Hadera. His parents named their son in honour of Avshalom Feinberg, one of the heroes of the anti-Turkish spy-network Nili. Avshalom Shoham loved his land very much and traveled in it a lot. Maybe, he had even visited this cave too. Avshalom’s family and friends in his memory helped to develop the cave and prepared its opening for visitors.

Avshalom Nature Reserve

In the Avshalom Cave one can get acquainted with wonderful variety of the amazing world of stalactites and stalagmites, some of which are over 300 thousand years old.

Stalactites hang down from the cave’s ceiling and sometimes join with the stalagmites. Some stalactites are up to 4 meters tall, and the diameter of these formations varies from several millimeters to several meters.

Apart from stalactites and stalagmites, there are other rock formations in the Avshalom Cave that look like corals, hanging cloths, netsuke, organ pipes, and vine grapes.