Saudi caves offer exciting tourism opportunities for the adventurous
Kingdom’s natural rock formations created over millions of years of natural geological activity
Saudi Arabia’s caves are a vast natural resource for the tourism industry in the Kingdom.
Large numbers of different types of deep and superficial caves are formed over millions of years, following the dissolution of limestone rocks due to rain and floods leaking into the ground through cracks and faults, resulting in cavities. Mahmoud Al-Shanti, a senior geologist at the Saudi Geological Survey, told Arab News that the SGS is working on locating caves, exploring their interiors and studying their formation.
Discussing how many of these were formed, he said: “As the lava of (a) volcano stops flowing in the subsoil, the last remaining quantity of the lava rushes forward, leaving behind an often regular longitudinal vacuum,” he said. “When this quantity stops flowing and completely hardens, it creates a cave or a volcanic tubular tunnel that extends beneath the earth’s surface.“
He also talked about shallow “duhool” caves and caves made of limestone rocks, and about the various forms of wildlife that make these cavities in the rocks their home, including weasels, wildcats, foxes, hyenas and wolves.
Tareq Mohammed, a cave tourism specialist, said: “When we talk about geotourism, the first thing that comes to mind are beaches, forests, deserts, mountains, underground wells, hot springs and areas of dormant volcanoes. But Saudi Arabia is also full of monuments and caves.” According to Mohammed, there are five basic types of cave in Saudi Arabia based on their geological division: ice caves, which are formed of ice in cold regions; marine caves formed by waves, oceans or rivers flowing into large rocks or mountains, creating large cavities over thousands of years; basaltic caves, known as volcanic caves; limestone caves; and sand caves that form inside sandy mountains.
He added that cave tourism is a pastime that can be indulged throughout the year, as temperatures inside remain constant between 24-26 C, but which must be led by a professional guide.