Baatara gorge waterfall Facts
- This breathtaking, as well as truly distinctive, natural wonder most frequently goes by the name of the Baatara gorge waterfall. It also has another, related name, however. That’s because it’s also known to some people as the Baatara gorge sinkhole.
- Yet this wonder of geological processes also holds another moniker. This one, however, doesn’t mention the waterall, just the surrounding chasm. The astounding natural formation also, on occasion, goes by the third name of the Cave of the Three Bridges.
- All of these, though, are fully appropriate. Regardless of which term one chooses to use to refer to it, though, one fact remains paramount. Its incredible natural beauty, along with its remarkable structure, makes it one of the great natural marvels of its region.
- It presently remains unknown if ancient, or even prehistoric, man knew of the stunning site. The likelihood, however, is strong that they did. The French bio-speleologist, Henri Coiffait, though, holds the credit for the discovery of the intriguing marvel of Nature.
- Despite boasting many fabulous natural marvels, the region of the world in which it formed isn’t known for its tourism. Due to this unfortunate situation, the Baatara gorge waterfall lamentably remains largely unknown to the average foreign tourist.
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Baatara gorge waterfall Physical Description
The magnificent work of Nature known as Baatara gorge waterfall remains best known for its sheer beauty. That fact’s fully merited, to be certain. The impressive formation also, however, possesses other physical attributes equally worthy of our appreciation.
The cascade itself formed as what’s known as a three-tiered waterfall. In total, the water plunges an astounding 837 ft (255 m) into the depths below. The longest individual drop boasted by the awesome site, however, measures an impressive 330 ft (100 m).
Along the way, though, its passage takes it through several natural bridges, through which the water bore a path. These amount to a total of three such formations, in fact. This, therefore, serves as the origin of the fitting alternate name, Cave of the Three Bridges.
Yet the many wonders of the Baatara gorge waterfall do not simply end there, however. That’s due to the nature of where the formation sits. The water itself plunges into the depths of a chasm, formed by a sinkhole, that descends into the depths of a mountain.
Baatara gorge waterfall Location, Formation, and History
The awe-inspiring Baatara gorge waterfall formed in a portion of the world already well known for its great natural beauty. More specifically, the site formed in what now constitutes the country of Lebanon, situated on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
This location places it within the confines of the beautiful region known as the Middle East. The mountain on which it formed further bears the appropriate name of Mount Lebanon. In larger terms, though, this makes it a part of the remarkable continent of Asia.
Geologists currently place the overall age of the surrounding rock strata at roughly 160 million years. This places its formation within the Jurassic Period. An exact time frame for when the structure as it exists today formed, however, remains undeterminable.
The composition of the surrounding region further remains almost entirely of limestone. This relatively soft stone allowed for the erosion of the strata by the incessant flow of water into the area. The precise length of time required, however, remains unknown.
Following the discovery of the Baatara gorge waterfall in 1952, much research and exploration occurred. Both it and its accompanying sinkhole were completely mapped in the 1980’s. Then, in 1988, a dye test showed that its water emerges at a spring in Dalleh.
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