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

Nahal Hatira Cave, Nahal Hatira, Negev

Grid ref.: 156010/037705
Location: Junction of Nahal Hatira and Nahal Yamin
Elevation: about 150 m above sea level

Description of the Cave:

Nahal Hatira Cave is a phreatic cave that developed on the southern bank of Nahal Hatira at the bottom of a cliff of the Shivta Formation and at the head of a long scree slope, about 80 m above the streambed.

The information about the cave was passed to the ICRC by Boaz Langford, following a visit to the site in April 2009.

The cave is built of a short passage (about 15 m) that developed along a north - south axis. Very narrow and short passages branch off the passage to the east and west. The width of the passage is about 2.5 m and its average height about 1.5 m.

The cave has one entrance, visible from afar, measuring 4X2 m. At the cave entrance there is a step built of local boulders, and it seems it was built to level the surface of the cave floor (a kind of terrace).

There are several dissolution domes in the cave ceiling. In the cracks crossing the cave ceiling there is crystallization of calcite.

Access and Hiking:

The cave can be reached on foot via the streambed of Nahal Hatira.

No bats were observed in the cave.

Written by: Boaz Langford