Avshalom Cave, also known as the Soreq Cave or the Stalactite Cave (HaNetifim in Hebrew), offers a glimpse into a hidden rocky world. This vast cavern, stretching over 5,000 square meters, is a haven for stunning natural cave formations. Discovered by random chance during the 1960’s, the Cave today is a formal site of the Israeli Nature Reserve Society, and is open for visitors to explore.

The star attraction is the dense concentration of stalactites. These fingers of calcite dangle from the ceiling, some reaching a length of four meters! Alongside are many other carstic phenomenons to see, learn about, and enjoy. Remarkably, some of these formations are estimated to be 300,000 years old, silently narrating the story of eons past.

The Avshalom Cave is more than just a visual treat. The constant temperature and humidity within the cave have made it a treasure trove for paleoclimate research. Scientists have meticulously studied the formations here, piecing together a remarkable 185,000-year record of the region’s semi-arid climate. Geologist James Aronson even dubbed the Soreq Cave Nature Reserve, which houses the Avshalom Cave, the “Rosetta Stone” of climate history in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The site is located some 3 kilometers from the city of Beit Shemesh, overlooking the lowlands to its west.