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

Azzun Chimney, Samaria

Location: Near the village of Azzun
Elevation: 255 m above sea level

Description of the Cave:

Azzun Chimney is a vertical karstic pit formed by phreatic dissolution processes (in this respect its name is somewhat misleading) in Upper Cenomanian limestone (Vradim Fm.). The pit entrance was exposed during quarrying works for paving the Azzun bypass road. Today the entrance opens about 4 m above the bottom of the artificial cliff on the southern side of the road. The entrance is rounded in shape, measures 1X0.5 m and opens on the northern side of the top of the pit. The depth of the pit, from its entrance to its floor, is 10 m. Its width varies between its upper part (narrow) and its lower part (wide). Its general shape is rounded. The pit ceiling rises about 1.5 m above its floor and rounded dissolution pockets open in it. The pit walls are completely covered with many cave deposits among which prominent are: flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, corals, helictites and more. The pit floor is covered with collapse boulders and fragments of speleothems.

Notes:

The chimney entrance can be reached via the Azzun bypass road. There is no good parking spot at the side of the road.
Entering the chimney requires 13 m of rope, which can be anchored to a rock projection on the left side of the entrance.

Written by: Boaz Langford