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

Ravek Chimney

Grid ref.: 21851/30290
Location: North of the Barhata Valley
Elevation: 1320 m above sea level

General:

Ravek Cave is a large cave consisting of three karst chimneys that developed along a fissure in a general east - west direction, in limestone of Jurassic age ( Hermon Formation ). The cave has a large entrance opening in the wall of a wide doline of undefined shape, which developed on the northwestern side of the Barhata Valley. The outer side of the cave entrance is characterized by gentle surfaces consisting of low, rocky-stony hills.

Access:

- Getting to the place is dangerous from a security standpoint !!! and requires IDF approval.

- Access to the cave entrance is possible via the outposts road ascending to Har Dov or via road number 5

- Descending to the cave requires a rope. The rappel rope can be anchored to a tree growing about one meter from the cave entrance.

- Access to chimney no. 3 requires climbing the cave wall for 6 m, interrupted in its middle by a narrow ledge. The climbing section from the ledge to the chimney involves a not simple climb requiring aid equipment.

Fauna:

Individual bats were seen in the cave, species not identified.

Equipment:

A 40-meter rope for rappelling to the bottom of chimney 2 and then 25 meters of rope for rappelling to chimney no. 3. Anchors and climbing equipment for chimney number 3.

In the eastern wall of chimney no. 2, among the stalactites and stalagmites, there is an elliptical window leading, through a narrow, low corridor 2 m long, to the center of chimney 3. Chimney 3 is the most impressive of the cave's chimneys both in its shape and in the richness of its deposits. The height of the chimney from its top to its bottom is about 25 m. The connection point between the corridor extending from chimney 2 to chimney 3 is in the middle of the chimney, so that from the connection point to the floor of chimney 3 there is a difference of 11 m. The chimney dimensions are 1.6x2.5 m, its shape is elliptical, its walls are vertical and completely covered with many cave deposits, among which stand out: flowstone sheets, stalactites, stalagmites, pool deposits, elephant ears and helictites. The chimney floor is slightly covered with stones and fragments of cave deposits, among which there are concentrations of small pool deposits. On the southeastern side of the chimney floor there is a narrow vertical passage to another space. Its depth is 4 m and its dimensions at its bottom are 1.5x2 m. On the northern side of the floor of the space, among the curtain of elephant ears, there is a very narrow passage that looks like the sink point of the water flowing in this area. A stone that was dropped into this passage fell several meters before stopping.

Written by: Boaz Langford, after a visit to the place with Vladimir Boslov