Jeita Grotto

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Statue outside the Jeita Grotto.

The Jeita Grotto (Arabic: مغارة جعيتا) is a compound of caves in Lebanon located 20km north of Beirut in the Valley of Nahr al-Kalb (Dog River). This grotto is made up of two caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which a river runs so that much of it is underwater. It has been designed to include a series of walkways without disturbing the natural landscape.^[1]

The lower cave of the Jeita Grotto was discovered in 1836^{[citation needed]} and opened to the public in 1958. The upper cave was discovered in 1958 and opened to the public years later in 1969. Today, the Jeita Grotto is a popular tourist site for both Lebanese and travelers from abroad due to its beauty and proximity to Beirut. A ropeway that ascends through the Valley of Nahr al-Kalb carries visitors to the upper cave, or visitors can use the train shuttle that continuously runs back and forth between the upper and lower caves. The caves feature many stalactites and stalagmites.