Sannur Cave National Park.

Sannur Cave National Park.

Sannur Cave National Park is located in the Beni Suef Governorate, just 10 km from the city. It is only a short two-hour drive from Cairo. The area also boasts numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations. The reserve is made even more significant by the natural formations found here, many of which are rare and difficult to find elsewhere. The reserve is dotted with a large number of quarries from various eras. Some date back to antiquity, used during the time of the pharaohs in Egypt, while others are from more recent times and have been exploited in the past.

The ongoing alabaster excavation work led to the discovery of 54 large cavities, which opened the way to the caves located on the earth's floor. The reserve contains only one chamber or cave. This cave extends for 700 meters and has a depth and width of 15 meters. The caves contain geographical formations known as peaks and depressions. The most important feature of these natural formations is their quality and rarity, which are found nowhere else in the world. Therefore, researchers and geologists consider this reserve very important for conducting leading research and studies on the environmental and other conditions that prevailed in antiquity.

The Sannur Caves in Egypt are a classic karst cave, formed by groundwater seepage through the Eocene limestone of the Galala Plateau. The caves are the finest example of such formations in the entire country. As the water seeps downwards, calcium carbonate deposits are deposited on the cave's roof and floor, resulting in spectacular stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes. When light hits these formations, they shimmer like a wonderland. Above the floor, deposits of the red soil terra rossa are also found, interspersed with the formations, alongside several shallow sinkholes known as dolines.

The Sannur Caves, discovered in the 1980s following blasting in the quarry, led to the opening of an entrance to the chamber. The cave is covered with alabaster deposited by the thermal springs. This section consists of limestone. The unique geography and natural formations make this place very popular and contributed to its recognition as a protectorate by Prime Minister's decree in 1992.

The significance of the Sannur Cave

The quality and rarity of the natural formations in the cave make this one of the rarest places in the world. The site appears to be an ideal location for researchers to conduct detailed and comparative studies that can help understand environmental conditions in antiquity.