Soreq Cave

The Soreq Cave, also known as the Avshalom Cave, tops the list of the most beautiful caves in Israel. A forest of stalactites, the longest of which is more than 13 feet long, hangs from the roof of the 50,000-square-foot cavern, produced over millennia by the gradual dripping of water via fissures in the ceiling. A series of tall stalagmites rise from the floor beneath them, and some stalactites and stalagmites have united to form pillars. The result is an unique subterranean world full of unusual formations, including organic-looking coral reefs and tentacles. Other formations have been compared to elephant ears, ice cream cones, the Lion King, and the United States Capitol Building, among other things.

Since the installation of a contemporary lighting system, the whole image has become even more surreal. The cave has been lit by the white light of automobile headlights for years. However, photosynthesis was initiated, and the algae inside the cave began to expand, threatening to cover the exposed rock formations in a uniform smear of dark green moss. The park administrators then attempted to eliminate the algae by utilizing ultraviolet light at night, but the algae soon developed resistance to UV light.

Location: the western slopes of the Judean mountains