Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto was selected as one of 28 finalists to be placed on the prestigious seven natural wonders of the world list.  Nabil Haddad, head of Jeita’s national support committee said “This is a moment every Lebanese should be proud of.”  He said the Jeita Grotto has placed Lebanon on the global tourism map again.

The Jeita Grotto is located in a river valley near Beirut, is about 10,000 meters (nearly 33,000 feet) long and has some of the worlds’ biggest stalactites hanging about 8.2 meters (27 feet) from the ceiling.  It consists of two limestone caves, an upper gallery, and a lower cave through which an underground river runs. The New7Wonders foundation, based in Switzerland, will announce the new wonders in 2011.  An estimated one billion online voters will select the final seven on the website www.new7wonders.com .