Organized by the
Spéléo-Club du Liban (SCL)
and the
Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR)

With the collaboration of the
Department of Geology, American University of Beirut (AUB)

Under the patronage of the
Union Internationale de Spéléologie (UIS)

21, 22, 23 April 2006

Conference Venue
American University of Beirut (AUB)
Bliss Street – Beirut – Lebanon

Correspondence Address
P.O. Box: 70-923 Antelias, Lebanon
Fax: +961 1 381016
E-mail: secretary@mess2.com
www.mess2.com www.speleoliban.org

Organizing Committee

Joe Zgheib
Fadi Nader
Marc Metni
Nour Farra
Sami Karkabi
Joanna Doummar
Nadine Badr
Waleed Jad
Nadine Weber
Charles Tabet

Scientific Committee

Fadi Nader
Maya El-Kibbe
Joanna Doummar
Sami Karkabi
Jeannine Somma
Amal Wheibe

Symposium Secretariat

Fadi Nader
Joanna Doummar
Nadine Badr

The Middle-East Speleology Symposium 2006 will be the second international meeting that discusses the speleology of the Middle-East region and its surroundings. Scientists and cavers from the region and beyond are invited to meet, discuss their achievements and prepare future ventures.

More than 65% of the overall Lebanese territories (10452 sq. km) are covered by typical karstic terrains. Lebanon is considered the calcareous country by excellence. As such, it may be considered as an exception in the Middle-East. Two mountain ranges, Mount Lebanon and Anti Lebanon, are separated by the Bekaa Plain and dominate the topography of the country. The exposed geological formations range from Lower Jurassic to Recent strata.

Precipitation in the form of rain or snow is abundant (ca. 600-1500mm/year), particularly on Lebanon’s western flanks and especially on high altitudes. The soil nature allows the direct and regenerative replenishment of ground water. Therefore, all the conditions are in place to promote the development of caves. The ubiquity of carbonate rocks gives the landscape a varying and spectacular relief. The exceptional development of this landscape, which is characteristic of water-soluble rocks, materializes through the existence of momentous underground karstic features.

Dolinas are countless over the highland on Lebanon’s high plateaux (above an altitude of 1000m). Poljes are also not scarce. The Yammouneh Polje, which is situated at an altitude of 1400 meters on the eastern slopes of the Mount-Lebanon, is the most famous one. It covers a surface area of 6.3 sq. km. In many places, the bare limestone rock outcrops show exceptional karren features offering a breath-taking scenery.