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

Mirpeset Cave

Grid ref.: 18747/05459
Location: Eastern side of the center of Mount Sodom

Description of the cave:

Mirpeset Cave is a medium-sized cave (total length about 300 m) consisting of a central flow channel and a number of abandoned channels.

The entrance to the cave is on the eastern side of a horizontal, open plot of land. The entrance is triangular in shape, and from it a horizontal passage that developed in cover rock continues south for about 50 m. At the end of the passage there is a low step where the cave meets salt rock, and at this point there is a wide vertical shaft about 35 m deep. At various points along the shaft there are openings leading to a number of passages.

Opening I: This opening opens on the northern side of the center of the shaft and leads to a passage that continues northwest, and after about 4 m turns west and continues as a straight, narrow and high passage for another 20 m. At the end of this section the passage turns south and from there becomes narrower. In the area of the passage opening there are giant salt flowers.

Opening II: This opening opens on the southwestern side of the shaft, about 6 m above opening III. This opening leads to a winding passage about 25 m long, at the end of which it connects to the main passage.

Opening III: This opening opens on the southwestern side of the shaft about 10 m above its floor. In front of the opening there is a kind of wide rock balcony (mirpeset) - after which the cave is named. From the rock balcony a wide, high passage continues in a general southwest direction. After about 25 m the passage connects to another shaft, through which there is no line of sight to the surface. On the eastern side of this shaft, about 6 m above the passage floor, there is a wide opening leading to a tiny room (6X3 m) in which white cave deposits are common. On the floor of the shaft the flow channel continues south and widens considerably. The height of the passage in this widening does not exceed a single meter.

The main passage continues southwest as a wide, high passage with many collapse rocks scattered on its floor. After about 20 m the passage is blocked by a concentration of cave deposits (stalagmites and stalactites), and shortly after them the passage ends.

Notes:

From the cave entrance to the first shaft one can pass without a rope. The first shaft can be passed only by rappelling - anchors: one can loop around a kind of rock protrusion built of cover rock that is located above the shaft opening.
To reach the two openings in the middle of the shaft (opening I and opening II) one must swing using the rappel rope.
Movement along the main passage of the cave is mostly done walking upright.
A visit to the cave requires equipping with a 35 m rope for the descent into the shaft, as well as a rope/sling 10 m long for anchoring before the descent into the shaft.

Written by: Boaz Langford