SPELEO-CLUB DU LIBAN

The Spéléo Club du Liban (SCL) is the oldest caving club in the Middle East, founded in 1951. Since its inception, the club has focused primarily on cave-related scientific and sporting activities. Over the past 50 years, the SCL has discovered and explored more than 1,000 caves in Lebanon, including some of the deepest and longest in the country. Notable discoveries include the 9 km-long Jiita cave and the -622 m deep Foura Dara chasm. The club has also discovered many magnificent caves, including Mgharet el Kassarat, Rouaisse, Baataara, Balaa, Nabaa el Moutran and Afqa. The SCL has received several awards from the Lebanese government for its work, including the Order of the Cedar in 1963 and 2005. Caving has become a popular sport in Lebanon over the past decade, offering activities ranging from simple sightseeing tours to more complex extreme sports.