Avshalom Cave, Show cave near Beit Shemesh, Israel.
Avshalom Cave is a show cave near Beit Shemesh featuring extensive stalactite and stalagmite formations throughout its chambers. The cave extends 83 meters deep and reaches 60 meters in width, creating a spacious underground landscape filled with mineral deposits.
Workers uncovered the cave accidentally in May 1968 while conducting quarrying operations in the area. The location was kept secret for years afterward to protect the delicate mineral formations from damage.
The cave is named after Avshalom Shoham, an Israeli soldier who died during the War of Attrition, though it is also known as Soreq Cave. The dual naming reflects how local history and natural wonders are intertwined at this site.
The cave is accessible through guided tours that lead visitors through its passages and explain the geological formation of the mineral deposits. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven, and be prepared for high humidity levels inside the chambers.
Some stalactites in the cave reach four meters in length and took 300,000 years to form. This extraordinarily slow growth makes them among the oldest mineral formations found underground in the region.
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