Jeita Grotto

Lebanon preserves thousands of years of human settlement through archaeological sites and museum collections spread across the country. Phoenician ruins are adjacent to Roman monuments, while medieval fortresses mark periods of the Crusades and Ottoman rule. In Beirut, the National Museum houses artifacts covering all the country's historical eras, and the Mim Mineral Museum displays over 2,000 specimens from around the world. Along the coast, Sidon features a 13th-century maritime fortress and the Echmoun temple, a Phoenician complex built in the 7th century BCE. Collections extend well beyond classical archaeology. The Saint-Joseph University Prehistory Museum documents prehistoric occupation in Lebanon, while the Byblos Fossil Museum showcases more than 200 petrified specimens illustrating regional geological history. These institutions provide a thorough overview of the human and natural evolution of this Mediterranean area, from early settlements to Ottoman and modern periods.

This collection presents geological formations created through natural processes over millions of years. From layered sandstone waves in Arizona to volcanic basalt columns in Northern Ireland, these locations demonstrate Earth's geological diversity. Erosion, tectonic activity, and mineral deposits have shaped landscapes that provide insights into our planet's history. The selection includes limestone caves in New Zealand with glowworms, thermal springs in Turkey with travertine terraces, and colored rock formations in China created by iron-rich minerals. Visitors will find glacier caves in Iceland, canyons in Utah, and salt pans in Namibia. Each location documents specific geological processes and offers opportunities to explore different rock formations and natural phenomena.

Caves form through gradual geological processes that can span millions of years. Water dissolves limestone and creates underground chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites, while ice caves in alpine regions maintain their frozen formations even during summer months. Each cave system tells a distinct story about the forces that shaped it, from chemical erosion to tectonic shifts that exposed new rock layers to underground rivers. This collection includes some of the most geologically significant caves on Earth. Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico encompasses more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) of passages filled with mineral formations, while Mammoth Cave in Kentucky extends over 400 miles (650 kilometers) through limestone bedrock. Eisriesenwelt in Austria stretches 26 miles (42 kilometers) and contains ice structures that reform each winter. Reed Flute Cave in Guilin showcases limestone formations that began developing 180 million years ago. Waitomo Caves in New Zealand are home to thousands of glowworms that light the darkness with bioluminescence. Puerto Princesa in the Philippines features an underground river that flows 5 miles (8 kilometers) before reaching the sea. Several caves also preserve human history, including Lascaux in France with its 17,000-year-old paintings. These formations demonstrate how water, ice, and time create underground worlds that reveal both geological and cultural history.

The Earth offers a wide range of geological shapes shaped over millions of years by weather and the movements of the land. In Northern Ireland, thousands of basalt columns stand along the coast, leftover from an ancient eruption. In Arizona, the Colorado River carved out a canyon more than 400 miles long. In Bolivia, a salt flat forms a giant mirror during the rainy season. You can also find white terraces formed by hot springs in Turkey, eroded sandstone arches in the American desert, or the largest coral reef in the world off Australia. Some formations show that volcanic activity still occurs, like in Yellowstone Park. Others are the result of tectonic plate collisions, such as the Himalayas where Mount Everest rises. These places tell the story of Earth's geology and are still changing under the influence of wind, water, and moving continents.

Lebanon offers diverse photo opportunities, from natural limestone formations at Raouché to ancient Roman ruins in Baalbek. The country features underground caves at Jeita, medieval markets in Byblos, and historic cedar forests. Religious buildings, coastal fortresses, and traditional architecture in cities like Tripoli and Beirut present cultural heritage. Natural areas include the Qadisha Valley, Bekaa Valley vineyards, and Mediterranean beaches at Palm Islands Reserve.