Sorek Stalactite Cave EarthCache
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Sorek Stalactite Cave- Me'arat HaNetifim
History
The Stalactite Cave (aka Sorek cave in the Avshalom Reserve) was discovered in May 1968 after a routine blast in the nearby Har-Tuv quarry revealed a hollow in the mountain. Quarry work in the area was immediately stopped, and in 1972 the area was opened to the public. The Stalactite Cave is not one of the largest caves in the world (only 82-meter long, 60-meter wide), but in beauty, variety, and scientific research it ranks among the best in the world.
Science
Karst caves are hollows up to several kilometers long in the Earth, formed mostly from limestone and dolomite. Rainwater seeps through the ground, dissolving the carbon dioxide in the bedrock. The water turns acidic (carbonic acid), and begins to eat away at the rock. The branched cracks slowly enlarge to form caves. The calcium and magnesium in the dolomite rock reacts with the carbonic acid to form calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate which are dissolved in the water.
The water drips throughout the year primarily from cracks in the cave ceiling. There is a constant slow drip, which increases during the rainy season. The carbon dioxide evaporates from the drops, leaving the mineral deposit in the water to form stala_c_tites (netifim in Hebrew) down from the _c_eiling and stala_g_mites (zekifim in Hebrew) up from the _g_round. Irregularities in the cave ceiling can lead to the drops seeping at an angle, forming "elephant ear" stalactites. The remaining water forms pools on the cave floor.
Directions Here:
From Jerusalem: Take Rte 3755 from Ein Karem towards Nes Harim. At Nes Harim junction make a right to Rte 3866. At Challenger Junction you'll see a memorial to the astronauts who died with the Challenger shuttle, and a sign pointing you to the right to the cave.
From the rest of the country: From Rte. 1 exit at Shaar Hagay. At the first entrance to Beit Shemesh (at the Big mall, immediately after the train tracks) make a left to Rte. 3855. After the industrial area make a right at the traffic circle, and after about 200 meters make a left onto Rte. 3866 towards Nes Harim into the USA Park. At Challenger Junction you'll see a memorial to the astronauts who died with the Challenger shuttle, and a sign pointing you to the left to the cave.
After a short film, visitors can go through the cave accompanied by a guide. There are tours in Hebrew and English.
For hours, tours, and price information in English, see:
(visit link)
and in Hebrew: (visit link)
Note: There are many steps going down to the cave, and several within the cave itself. It is currently not stroller or wheelchair accessible. At the bottom of the steps there is a gift shop and facilities. On the way back up to the parking lot there are signs in Hebrew with helpful updates about how many steps you have gone and calories burned, with the food equivalent. Apparently the entire visit to the cave will help you burn off a portion of falafel (unclear how much hummus that includes).
In order to log this cache, you'll have to answer the following questions, by watching the film and listening to the guide:
1.What is the color of a young stalact/gmite? Of an older one? Why is this so?
2. What food reference is the shape of a young stalactite?
3. How much time does it take the formations to grow by 1 cm?
4. Why haven't Romeo and Juliet met until now?
5. How do people change the gas content of the air in the cave? How does that affect the rate of sediment formation?
6. Where does the stalagmite couple go on their honeymoon?
7.If you wish you may take a picture of you and your GPS at the cave, and send it along with the answers to: netifim@gmail.com .
Logs without answers will be deleted. Happy caching!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)