This page was translated from Hebrew and has not been reviewed yet. The Hebrew page is the reference. עברית

HaBor, Wadi Makukh

Grid ref.: 181843/145529
Location: Eastern Binyamin
Elevation: 443 m above sea level

Description of the Cave:

General:

HaBor-Wadi Makukh Cave is a medium-sized cave composed of a single elliptical chamber measuring 22X32 m and whose height reaches 17 m. The cave entrance opens in the ceiling of the southern side of the chamber, measures 9X10.6 m and is generally rounded in shape. The entrance is exposed in gentle terrain on the eastern bank of Wadi Sanisla (a gentle channel draining into Wadi Makukh from the north) and appears on the topographic maps as a cave without a name. During a cave survey carried out by the ICRC, in the early 1980s, in Wadi Makukh, the entrance and the cave were examined, and the survey report reported on them.

The surface in the area of the cave entrance is built of limestone of the Netzer Fm. The cave space developed in limestone of the Shivta Fm., beneath the mantle of the Netzer Fm. It seems that with the weathering processes that led to the retreat of the surface, the cave roof collapsed and its entrance opened, breaking through the Netzer Fm. layer. Beneath the entrance there is a pile of stones that certainly originates in the event of the collapse of the entrance and in the fall of stones, washing in of soil and organic matter, falling of animals and dumping of litter, which came after the creation of the entrance. A large fig tree grows on the pile of stones. The cave floor, at the edges of the pile of stones, is covered with light-colored soil and droppings of pigeons nesting in the walls of the cave chamber. Large stalagmites built of droppings stand beneath the nesting areas. In all parts of the cave there are dried carcasses of animals that fell and were trapped in the cave space, as well as much litter that was thrown in from its entrance.

Notes:

The cave entrance can be reached by a 4X4 vehicle, which can drive on a dirt road extending from the road between Maale Michmas and Rimonim, parallel to Trik Abu Jorj.
Descent to the bottom of the cave requires a rope about 20 m long and rappelling equipment.

Written by: Boaz Langford