Jeita Grotto – Lebanon

Amazing Natural Wonders

The Jeita grotto is two separate but interconnected limestone caves spanning an overall length of 9 km. The caves are situated in the Nahr-Al-Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18km north of Beirut. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not discovered until 1836 by Rev. William Thompson. It can be visited by boat & its channels and Underground River provides fresh drinking water to more than million Lebanese. In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper galleries 60m above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourist’s safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world’s largest stalactite. The galleries are composed of series of chambers the largest of which peaks at a height of 120m. Jeita Grotto plays a vital socio-economic & cultural role. It’s a finalist in the new 7 Wonders of Nature competition.

The Jeita upper cave has an overall length of 2130m of which 750m are accessible to visitors via specially conceived walkway; access to the remainder of the cave is restricted to prevent ecological damage which may occur due to flocking tourists. The upper cave consist a great concentration of a variety of crystallized formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, mushrooms, ponds, curtains & draperies. The upper gallery is famous for its formations, lit by effective lighting systems. It is entered through 117m long concrete tunnel. The part accessible by visitors has three huge chambers. First white chamber second is Red due to the color of formations. White dripstones are pure calcite without defilement; the red color is given by red oxide in small amount. The white chamber is medium sized, but has the most impressive formations of the cave; the Red chamber is 106 m high & 30-50m wide. The third chamber is biggest of all the threes &has a height of almost 120m. the longest stalactite in the world is located in jeita’s white chamber; measures 8.2m

The lower gallery which has an overall length of 6200m is located 60m below upper gallery. It is traversed by smooth underwater river & lake (the “Dark Lake”). The river is broken up by several small cataracts & rapids. The lower cave’s “Thompson’s Cavern” is a massive hall with a impressive speleothemes such as Eagle Obelisk stalagmite. Other halls in the lower gallery include Pantheon , grand chaos, & Shangri-La. Visitors are transported in lower gallery by electric boats for a distance of 500m. in winter the lower level is closed, when water level is too high.

In 1961, Jeita became national symbol when Lebanese authorities issued a stamp to promote tourism. 

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Dead Sea - Jorden

Amazing Natural Wonders,

Dead Sea is a salt late between the West Bank / Palestine / Israel to the west & Jordan to the East. At 420 meters below sea level, its shores are the lowest points on the earth that are on dry land. With 30% salinity. It is 8.6 times saltier than ocean. The salinity makes harsh environment where animals cannot flourish; hence it’s name. it is 67 Km long & 18km wide at widest points. It lies in the Jordan Rift valley & it’s main tributary is the Jordan River. 

The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the globe for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the great), & it has been the supplier of wide variety of products; from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers. People also used salt & minerals from Dead Sea to create cosmetics & herbal sachets.

The Dead Sea’s climate offers year-round sunny skies & dry air with low pollution. It has very minimal rainfall & the temp. avgas .somewhere between 32-39 Celsius in summer & 20-23 Celsius in winter. The region has weakened ultraviolet radiation, particularly the UVB (erythrogenic rays ),  an atmosphere characterized by high oxygen content due to the high barometric pressure. 

The dead sea has become major center for health research & treatment for several reasons.  The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced UV component of solar radiation, & the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects. E.g. persons suffering reduced respiratory functions from diseases such as cystic fibrosis seem to benefit from the increased atmospheric pressure.

Sufferers of the skin disorder psoriasis also benefit from the ability to sunbathe for long period in the area due its positions below sea level & subsequent result that many of the sun’s harmful UV rays are reduced.  Thus, the region’s climate & low elevation have made it popular center for therapies mentioned below :

Climatotherapy :  Treatment which exploits local climatic features such as temperature, humidity, sunshine, barometric pressure.

Heliotherapy : Treatment that exploits biological effects of sun’s radiation. 

Thalassotherapy : Treatment that exploits bathing in Dead Sea Water.

Due to the popularity therapeutic & healing properties several companies have also shown interest in manufacturing & supplying dead sea salt as raw material for body & skin care products.

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Iguazu Falls – Brazil

Amazing Natural Wonder

Iguazu falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the boarder of the Brazilian state of Parana & Argentine province of Misiones. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 meters (269 ft) in height, though the majority is about 64 meters (210 ft). Devil’s throat, a U-shaped 82 meters high, 150 meters wide & 700 meters long (490 by 2300 ft cataract, is the most impressive of all, & marks the border between Argentina & Brazil. 2/3 of falls are within the Argentine territory.  About 900 meters of the 2.7km length does not have water flowing over it. The edge of the basalt cap recedes only 3mm per year. The water of lower Iguazu collects in a canyon that drains in to the Parana River in Argentina, shortly downstream from the Itaipu dam.

The falls can be reached from the two main towns on either side of the falls: Foz du Iguacu in the Brazilian state of Parana, & Puerto Iguacu in the Argentine province of Misiones as well as from Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) on the other side of the Parana River from Foz du Iguacu. The falls are shares by the iguazu national park (Argentina) & Iguazu national park (Brazil). Theses falls were designated UNESCO world heritage sites in 1984 & 86, respectively. The fall area provides opportunities for water sports & rock climbing.

Upon seeing Iguazu, the United State’s First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed, “Poor Niagara”. Iguazu is also often compared with South Africa’s Victoria Falls which separates Zambia & Zimbabwe. Iguazu, however, affords better views & walkways & its shape allows for spectacular vistas. At one point a person can stand & be surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls. The Devil’s throat has water pouring in to it from three sides. Likewise, because Iguazu is split in to many relatively small falls, one can view this portion at a time. Victoria does not allow this as it is essentially one waterfall that falls in to a canyon & its too immense to appreciate at once. In some of the movies this falls were features Moonraker, The mission & Indiana Jones, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

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