5 Līrāt / Livres Jeita Grotto

Reverse

Jeita Grotto

Script: Arabic

Lettering:
★ مَصرف لبنَان ★
مغَارة جعيتا

Translation:
Bank of Lebanon
Jeita Grotto

Edge

Plain

Comment

Silver Set Issue Price: 700,000 LBP
The "Natural Scenes from Lebanon" is a set of 4 coins featuring 4 wonderful Lebanese natural landmarks : The Raouche Rock, The Jeita Grotto, The Cedars of Lebanon, and The Qaraoun Lake.


© Image courtesy of Banque du Liban

The Jeita Grotto (Arabic: مغارة جعيتا‎‎) is a system of two separate, but interconnected, karstic limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836 by Reverend William Thomson; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese.
In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper galleries 60 metres (200 ft) above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourists safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world's largest known stalactite. The galleries are composed of a series of chambers the largest of which peaks at a height of 120 metres (390 ft).
Aside from being a Lebanese national symbol and a top tourist destination, the Jeita grotto plays an important social, economic and cultural role in the country. It was one of top 14 finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition.

Interesting fact

Price

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 5 Līrāt / Livres (Jeita Grotto) 2012 coin.