JEDDAH – The Arabian Treks recently organized a trip to the Umm Jirsan Cave. Around 54 enthusiastic adventure lovers, who share interest in camping, science and technology, from 14 different nationalities went on an expedition to explore the 4,000-year-old cave. The cave, located in Bani Rasheed lava field about 160 km north of Madinah, is known to be the longest cave in the Arab World. Going by numbers, Umm Jirsan Cave is 1,890 meters long, 45 meters wide and 25 meters high. Some geologists were astonished to discover skulls of humans and wild animals dating hundreds of years old. "We as Saudis have a duty to share and promote the beauty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and increase the exposure in tourism to unique places like Umm Jirsan, and other places," said Mazin Kabli, one of the founders of Arabian Treks. The organization's main objective is to discover new places in the Kingdom that are difficult to reach and have never been explored previously, and share the knowledge with those interested. Adventures can be risky, but safety of all campers is Arabian Trek's main concern. "We always have a first aid certified member on all our trips," said Kabli. – SG
