Ayalon Cave

#170 among destinations in Israel

Nature, Cave

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Facts and practical information

The Ayyalon Cave is a large limestone cave near Ramla, Israel in which new species of crustaceans were discovered in April 2006. It has been studied for its complex food web, which survived for millions of years without light or organic food coming in from the surface, being based solely on a type of bacterium which feeds on sulfur which serves as the only organic matter available for the next higher level of organisms to feed on. The cave has offered an ecological refuge for species whose relatives living at the surface have been wiped out by climatic changes and catastrophic events over millions of years, and offers a unique sample for the study of long-term ecological changes in the area. ()

Local name: מערת איילון Discovered: 2006Length: 8858 ftDepth: 328 ftCoordinates: 31°54'37"N, 34°55'39"E

Location

HaMerkazIsrael

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Day trips

Ayalon Cave – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Yad La-Shiryon, Mini Israel, Emmaus Nicopolis, Latrun.

5.9 miSE
Museum, Military museum, Historical place
Yad La-Shiryon
150 min walk • Yad La-Shiryon, located at Latrun in Israel, stands as a solemn testament to the history and evolution of armored corps in the Israeli Defense Forces. This museum, one of the most diverse tank museums in the world, harbors a significant collection of tanks and armored...
5.3 miSE
Museum, Theme park, Amusement park
Mini Israel
135 min walk • Mini Israel, located near Latrun in Israel, is a miniature park that offers a unique experience, showcasing the diversity and history of the country in a small-scale format. Opened in November 2002, this museum features over 385 beautifully crafted replicas of Israel's...
6.1 miSE
Archaeological site, Sacred and religious sites, Field
Emmaus Nicopolis
156 min walk • Emmaus Nicopolis, was the Roman name for one of the towns associated with the Emmaus of the New Testament, where Jesus is said to have appeared after his death and resurrection.
6 miSE
Monastery
Latrun
154 min walk • Latrun is located at a strategic hilltop in the Latrun salient in the Ayalon Valley. It overlooks the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, 25 kilometers west of Jerusalem and 14 kilometers southeast of Ramla.
3.4 miNW
Church
Church of Saint George, Lod
86 min walk • The Church of Saint George is a Christian Greek Orthodox Church located in Lod, Israel, which serves as a shrine for the fourth-century Christian martyr Saint George. The current church, built in 1870, sits adjacent to Lod's El-Khidr Mosque.
2.8 miNW
Cemetery
British military cemetery, Ramla
72 min walk • Ramleh Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing is for personnel of both World Wars and the period of Mandatory Palestine. It is located in the town of Ramla in Israel.
6.4 miSE
Park
Canada Park
165 min walk • Canada Park is a declared Israeli national park stretching over 7,000 dunams, and extending from No man's land into the West Bank.
3.4 miNW
Museum, Archaeological museum
Lod Mosaic, Lod
88 min walk • The Lod Mosaic is a mosaic floor dated to ca. 300 CE discovered in 1996 in the Israeli town of Lod, formerly Lydda. Believed to have been created for a private villa, it is one of the largest and best-preserved mosaic floors uncovered in the country.
3.4 miW
Church
St. Nicodemus and St. Joseph of Arimathea Church, Ramla
88 min walk • The St. Nicodemus and St. Joseph of Arimathea Church is a Catholic church located in Ramla the capital city of Central District in Israel.
3.8 miW
Mosque
White Mosque, Ramla
97 min walk • The White Mosque is an Umayyad-era mosque located in Ramla, Israel. Only its minaret is still standing. According to local Islamic tradition, the northwestern section of the mosque contained the shrine of an Islamic prophet, Saleh.
4.3 miN
Bridge
Jisr Jindas, Lod
111 min walk • Jisr Jindas, Arabic for "Jindas Bridge", also known as Baybars Bridge, was built in 1273 CE. It crosses a small wadi, known in Hebrew as the Ayalon River, on the old road leading south to Lod and Ramla.