The Unbelievable Formations of Baatara Gorge Waterfall
Tauheed Ahmad Nawaz
When Nature displays its manifold wonders in the most unbelievable formations throughout on the earth planet. Lebanon’s Baatara Gorge Waterfall has a unique formation that re-establishes this widely famous truth once again.
This scarce waterfall visible during the ice-melting months of March and April is actually located in the Balaa village which falls in between the Lebanese cities called Laqlouq and Tannourine. The location of the Baatara Gorge Waterfall is generally popular amongst the local people as the “Three Bridge Chasm”.
In 1952, the Baatara Gorge waterfall was first made public by Henri Coffiat, who was a bio-speleologist by profession. He reported the existence of this exotic waterfall which is 255 meters high. Moreover; when the summer season beings in, the ice of Mount Lebanon starts melting. The waterfall location is made all the more remarkable because of the three naturally formed bridges that hang one on top of the other and move inside into the chasm of Mount Lebanon.
The Baatara Gorge Waterfall cascades down from three bridges. The hole is famous to be made of limestone belonging to the Jurassic age. The stunning waterfall is a great tourist attraction in Lebanon. It is claimed that the age of the limestone is identified to be approximately 160 million years.
Some researchers have also performed dye experiments on the water of the Baatara Gorge Waterfall only in order to show that the water once again comes out under the sun in another village called Mgharet al-Ghaouaghir which is situated near the village of Balaa. There was also a suggestion to fix safety equipment for folks interested in sports who accessed the region. Though, this suggestion was soon nullified by the authorities as that would ruin the natural beauty of the place.
The geologists say the creation of this stunning landform, it is understood that the topmost bridge of the gorge may have had the earliest presence. Maybe it was following a number of erosions and collapses that the other two bridges may have got formed. The Gorge of the Baatara Gorge Waterfall is still acknowledged to be constantly changing because the severity of the winter ice several times leads to the breaking of huge chunks of the pothole from both sides of the wall.
There are a number of warnings issued to visitors nearing the pothole, and these warnings are there to prevent them from going near the mouth as it may be slippery and also warn them to access the bridges because they always bear the risk of collapsing under the body weight of numerous travelers together.
Else, the Baatara Gorge Waterfall is a charming destination for adventurous tourists who can also relish the nearby Tannourine Cedar Forest Reserve or the mountain trail of Mount Lebanon. Moreover; there’re camping sites in the region too which can enhance the experience.
