Speleo club du liban
Encyclopedia
Spéléo Club du Liban (in English, Lebanon, or Lebanese, Caving Club) was formed in 1951. It is considered one of the oldest caving associations in the Middle East.
. Ghorra was passionate about the discipline and he led as of 1946 a group of friends who went further into the Jeita cave. Documents about the discipline were gathered, contacts with foreign caving entities were established, and the idea of putting together a collective and organized structure was taking shape.
Born in 1951, the Speleo-Club of Lebanon was only officially registered six years later in 1957. The club’s founding fathers were the pioneering cavers Lionel Ghorra, Sami Karkabi, Raymond Khawam, and Albert Anavy. In 1963, Albert Anavy attended the first International Congress of Speleology in Paris and represented the SCL.
The number of enthusiasts increased and the club’s explorations grew in scope and intervention. Many caves were discovered and explored while cavers had started to master vertical techniques by using the first manufactured caving ladders. The deepest sinkhole in the Middle East, Faouar Dara, was soon discovered and fully explored bye SCL in 1962.
The importance of the discoveries made in Jeita led to its opening to the public as a tourist show-cave
, with Sami Karkabi as its director. Due to SCL’s contribution to the works in Jeita, the club was officially recognized as beneficial to the nation (d’Utilité Publique) in 1963. Two years later in 1965, the SCL, representing Lebanon, became a founding member of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) at the 4th International Congress of Speleology. At this event, Albert Anavy was also elected as the first General Secretary of the UIS.
Thanks to the public opening of the upper galleries of Jeita, and to the accurate topography which allowed the Office of Hydraulic Resources to dig a 600m long tunnel and puncture the cave at the terminal siphon level, the SCL was decorated with the National Order of the Cedar
, with the rank of Knight, by the President of the Republic in 1969.
Throughout the years, SCL cavers made many discoveries and studies, attempted underground dives, improved equipment by DIY innovations. SCL is regularly asked to train the Lebanese army
in cave rescue
operations and in Single Rope Technique
. In addition it is also requested to conduct underground studies for various organizations such as governmental bodies, municipalities, and even consultancy firms.
SCL releases periodically Al Ouat’Ouate (the bat in Arabic), the club’s magazine since 1955. Consistent, with club activities, the Ouat’Ouate covers all aspects of speleology.
The SCL was the initiator of the first National Gathering of Speleology in 1996, and the main organizer of the Middle-East
Speleology Symposium MESS in 2001, which was acclaimed internationally. SCL moved also organized MESS2 in 2006, thus committing itself to organize such an event every five years. SCL’s continuous progress and achievements was last officially rewarded by being granted the National order of the Cedar a second time, with the grade of Officer.
History
In 1940, Lionel Ghorra escorted a French expedition to the Jeita CaveJeita Grotto
The Jeita Grotto In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper galleries above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourists safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world's largest...
. Ghorra was passionate about the discipline and he led as of 1946 a group of friends who went further into the Jeita cave. Documents about the discipline were gathered, contacts with foreign caving entities were established, and the idea of putting together a collective and organized structure was taking shape.
Born in 1951, the Speleo-Club of Lebanon was only officially registered six years later in 1957. The club’s founding fathers were the pioneering cavers Lionel Ghorra, Sami Karkabi, Raymond Khawam, and Albert Anavy. In 1963, Albert Anavy attended the first International Congress of Speleology in Paris and represented the SCL.
The number of enthusiasts increased and the club’s explorations grew in scope and intervention. Many caves were discovered and explored while cavers had started to master vertical techniques by using the first manufactured caving ladders. The deepest sinkhole in the Middle East, Faouar Dara, was soon discovered and fully explored bye SCL in 1962.
The importance of the discoveries made in Jeita led to its opening to the public as a tourist show-cave
Show cave
Show caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
, with Sami Karkabi as its director. Due to SCL’s contribution to the works in Jeita, the club was officially recognized as beneficial to the nation (d’Utilité Publique) in 1963. Two years later in 1965, the SCL, representing Lebanon, became a founding member of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) at the 4th International Congress of Speleology. At this event, Albert Anavy was also elected as the first General Secretary of the UIS.
Thanks to the public opening of the upper galleries of Jeita, and to the accurate topography which allowed the Office of Hydraulic Resources to dig a 600m long tunnel and puncture the cave at the terminal siphon level, the SCL was decorated with the National Order of the Cedar
National Order of the Cedar
The National Order of the Cedar is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is made up of five Grades :* Grand Cordon...
, with the rank of Knight, by the President of the Republic in 1969.
Throughout the years, SCL cavers made many discoveries and studies, attempted underground dives, improved equipment by DIY innovations. SCL is regularly asked to train the Lebanese army
Lebanese Armed Forces
The Lebanese Armed Forces or Forces Armées Libanaises in French, also known as the Lebanese Army according to its official Website The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) (Arabic: القوات المسلحة اللبنانية | Al-Quwwāt al-Musallaḥa al-Lubnāniyya) or Forces Armées Libanaises in French, also known as the...
in cave rescue
Cave rescue
Cave rescue is a highly specialized field of wilderness rescue in which injured, trapped or lost cave explorers are medically treated and extracted from various cave environments....
operations and in Single Rope Technique
Single Rope Technique
Single Rope Technique is a set of methods used to descend and ascend on the same single rope. SRT is used in caving, potholing, rock climbing, canyoning, roped access for building maintenance and by arborists for tree climbing.-Historical Developments:...
. In addition it is also requested to conduct underground studies for various organizations such as governmental bodies, municipalities, and even consultancy firms.
SCL releases periodically Al Ouat’Ouate (the bat in Arabic), the club’s magazine since 1955. Consistent, with club activities, the Ouat’Ouate covers all aspects of speleology.
The SCL was the initiator of the first National Gathering of Speleology in 1996, and the main organizer of the Middle-East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
Speleology Symposium MESS in 2001, which was acclaimed internationally. SCL moved also organized MESS2 in 2006, thus committing itself to organize such an event every five years. SCL’s continuous progress and achievements was last officially rewarded by being granted the National order of the Cedar a second time, with the grade of Officer.