Jeita Grotto

Jeita Grotto, the longest cave in the Middle East, is situated approximately 11 miles (18km) north of Beirut.
It consists of two separate, but interconnected, limestone caves, and boasts a length of 5.6 miles (9km).
One of the worlds most amazing agglomerations of stalactites and stalagmites, Jeita Grotto is widely
considered to be the pride of Lebanon, and featured as a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.

History of the Jeita Grotto
The caves were inhabited by prehistoric man, with evidence suggesting that they were previously used to produce
swords. Reverend William Thompson, an American missionary, is credited with the modern discovery of the caves in
1836. Thompson is said to have advanced 50 metres into the caves before firing his gun. The resultant echoes
assured him that the caves were to be of significant importance.
Jeita Grotto was not explored further until the 1870’s, when Maxwell and Huxley of the Beirut Water Company carried
out extensive expeditions of the caves, reaching 1060 metres inside the grotto.
Lebanese explorers have ventured deeper into the cave since the 1940’s, and have so far exposed 5.6mi (9km) of
the Jeita Grotto.
The caves were initially known as the Grottoes of Nahr al-Kalb, after the underground river that runs through
the grottoes. Several names were subsequently used, including Djaita, Jehita, and finally, Jeita. Jeita is
derived from the town in which the caves entrance is situated, and is loosely translated in Aramaic as the ‘roar’
or ‘noise’ of water.