One day in May, 1968, an explosion opened a crack into a magical and fantastic world hidden beneath the ground in the middle of the Judean Hills. According to geologists, the Soreq cave was formed around 25 million-years ago, when the mountainous range of the Judean Hills rose up above the surface of the water. Because these layers of limestone and dolomite rock were displaced and folded with time, cracks formed which allowed water to enter and dissolve some of the rock. This water was converted into acid when seeping through the cracks and flowing through the soil, it absorbed carbon dioxide from the roots of the plants and the surrounding decay. These processes are called "Karst" and helped with the cave expansion process.
These pictures were taken in 1987, originally slides and digitized recently.
These pictures were taken in 1987, originally slides and digitized recently.
Stalactites and Stalagmites: the next stage in the history of the cave began with the retreat of the sea and the lowering of the ground water level. The dissolution of Rock stopped and the process was reversed. When a drop of water saturated with limestone solution reached the ceiling of the cave the carbon dioxide escaped and the remaining limestone crystallized.
Stalactites and Stalagmites: the next stage in the history of the cave began with the retreat of the sea and the lowering of the ground water level. The dissolution of Rock stopped and the process was reversed. When a drop of water saturated with limestone solution reached the ceiling of the cave the carbon dioxide escaped and the remaining limestone crystallized.
