Giant Cave Discovered in Judea and Samaria: Largest Underground Chamber Ever Found in Israel

• A thousand-year-old cave, nearly 90 meters long and 40 meters high, was revealed for the first time near Ofra, adorned with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, preserved in pristine condition since its formation

January 2026: As part of the activities of the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an extraordinary cave was recently discovered near the settlement of Ofra in Judea and Samaria. The cave contains the largest underground chamber ever discovered in Israel - 88 meters long, 75 meters wide, and approximately 40 meters high.

Ofra is situated in a developed karst basin, which creates a high concentration of geological phenomena such as pits and caves. In the past, numerous karst caves have been discovered in the area, some decorated with stalactites and stalagmites.

The cave exhibits an exceptional wealth of highly developed cave deposits: spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, massive elephant ears, pool deposits, and rare crystals. According to experts, the findings in this cave are exceptionally unique - even in the Ofra area, known as one of the most special in Israel in terms of cave phenomena.

Professor Amos Frumkin, Director of the Cave Research Center at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reports that humans have never entered the cave, but a snake skeleton found at its bottom indicates that animals fell inside. "The cave was discovered by a team of cavers, including Vladimir Boslov, Raz Ben Yair, Reuven Zakai, Yuri Lisovic, and Yoav Negev, who invested great and prolonged effort to rappel into it. This is the largest chamber ever discovered in Israel, and it is decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites that are protected natural treasures and of great research importance. Preserving the cave will allow it to be open to the public in the future, but currently, entry to the cave is extremely dangerous and prohibited.

The Cave Research Center further adds that a cave park is planned to be established around Ofra, intended to preserve the unique karst phenomena (dissolution and caves) characteristic of this area. Currently, it is possible to view the phenomenon mainly from above ground or to enter the Chinese Pit at a depth of 60 meters, via an accessible ladder system intended for visitors who do not have knowledge of climbing and rappelling.