Lebanon is a beautiful country, and much of its beauty is natural.

Visitors to Lebanon would do a disservice to themselves if they don’t stop at the Jeita Grotto, which is made of two large limestone caves found in the mountains around 18 kilometres north of Beirut.

The upper grotto, reached by a short ride up the mountain in a cable car, is home to the biggest stalactite in the world. The long walk through the spacious cavern shows some of the mos amazing natural formations, including stalagmites, stalactites, mushrooms and columns.

The lower grotto was discovered in 1836 when an exploring Reverend fired a shot from his gun. The gigantic echo returned convinced him he had found a cavern. Little excavation afterwards tapped into the grotto, which has a small river stream running through the cavern. Words cannot describe the marvel of a boat ride through the amazingly detailed creations of nature, slowly forming and growing since the last Ice Age.

Over 1,700 m above sea level, and a good 90 minutes drive from Beirut, lies another rare gem, though much less popular than the Jeita Grotto.

Al-Shorouk Cedar Natural Reserve spans over 400 km2, covering some 5% of Lebanon’s total area. The protected area was set up to preserve cedar trees, Lebanon’s national emblem. During the winter months, these mountains are often covered by snow. However, due to climate change, the snowfall and rainfall has decreased sharply, especially last winter, which prevents the cedar seeds from germinating.

Besides climate change, the area has been under threat for thousands of years due extensive logging and herding. Much of the cedar forest cover atop the mountains of Lebanon has disappeared over the years. The area is an important stop for migrating bird, which attracts bird lovers during the migration season from all over the world. Scientists at the reserve are worried that the reduced tree cover might affect the migrating birds. The reserve also protects some of the most important water sources that flow from the area and reach many Lebanese.

The current eco-reserves are trying to reverse the trend. Although Lebanon’s approach does not focus on replanting cedars, but making conditions optimum for natural growth of the forests. Scientists are worried that replanting might introduce cedars from Algeria or Morocco, which are different species from Lebanon’s own Cedrus libani.

The forests, which are home to the oldest cedar tree in Lebanon (over 3,000 years old), are a marvel to see. As the sunlight passes between the leaves of the huge, slow-growing cedars, the fresh air and the natural sounds of birds and bees are enough to make one forget the busy streets of Beirut not too far away.