Spéléo Club du Liban

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The caves of Lebanon > QATTINE AZAR SINKHOLE

Location: Tarchich, North Metn
Geology: Keserouane Formation
Development: -515m depth

Special issues: Permission is needed from the landowner to enter

This sinkhole was discovered in 1996 by ALES. It is the second deepest sinkhole in Lebanon measuring 515m in depth. The cave was surveyed by both SCL and ALES working together. The underground river runs from Fouar Dara through Qattine Azar and Al-Kassarat cave in Antelias to emerge as the Fouar Antelias spring. The terminal siphon was explored in 1997 with total length of the passages measuring 4365m (Speleorient 4, 2004) with exploration still continuing to date.

Downloads:
Houet Qattine Aintoura, P. COURBON et H. TAINTON
Houet Qattine Azar: explorations 1997
Une expédition spéléo-cinématographique dans le gouffre de Qattine Azar au Liban, Gérard FAVRE, Philippe MARTI et Christian RUFI

PHOTOGRAPHIES

Caves of Lebanon

THE LONGEST CAVES OF LEBANON
( as of 2008, Speleo Club du Liban archives)
1   JIITA CAVE   {10,050}
2   ROUEISS CAVE   {5,460}
3   AFQA CAVE   {5,260}
4   AL-KASSARAT CAVE   {4,648}
5   AIN AL-LIBNE CAVE   {4,560}
6   NABAA AL-SHATAWIE   {4,130}
7   FAOUAR DARA SINKHOLE   {3,500}
8   QATTINE AZAR SINKHOLE   {3,100}
9   DAHR AL-AIN CAVE   {1,500}
10   NABAA AL-MOUTRAN CAVE   {1,200}

THE DEEPEST CAVES IN LEBANON
( as of 2008, Speleo Club du Liban archives)
1   FAOUAR DARA SINKHOLE   {-622}
2   QATTINE AZAR SINKHOLE   {-515}
3   BALLOUH BAATARA SINKHOLE   {-255}
4   JOURET AL-ABED SINKHOLE   {-255}
5   AL-BADAOUIYE SINKHOLE   {-205}
6   AIN AL-LIBNE SINKHOLE   {-195}
7   OTHMAN REMAIHY SINKHOLE   {-163}
8   AAQROUB SINKHOLE   {-155}
9   BALLOUH BALAA SINKHOLE   {-152}
10   TARCHICH SINKHOLE   {-147}