The Jeita Grotto (Arabic: مغارة جعيتا‎) is a system of two separate, but interconnected, karstic limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836 by Reverend William Thomson; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese.

In 1958, Lebanese speleologists discovered the upper galleries 60 metres (200 ft) above the lower cave which have been accommodated with an access tunnel and a series of walkways to enable tourists safe access without disturbing the natural landscape. The upper galleries house the world's largest known stalactite. The galleries are composed of a series of chambers the largest of which peaks at a height of 120 metres (390 ft).

Aside from being a Lebanese national symbol and a top tourist destination, the Jeita grotto plays an important social, economic and cultural role and is a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition, and as of 7:44 pm GMT the provisional New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results on 11/11/11 Jeita was one of the top 14 Finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature.

Coordinates: 33°57′14″N 35°38′36″E / 33.95389°N 35.64333°E / 33.95389; 35.64333

Jeita (also spelled Jaaita or Jaita; Arabic: جعيتا‎ Jʿītā) is a Lebanese town located in the Keserwan District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate. The town is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Beirut. It is famous for the Jeita Grotto which is a popular tourist attraction, as well as the Nahr al-Kalb, a river that runs from a spring near the grotto emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the town's inhabitants are followers of the Maronite Church.

The name Jeita is derived from the Aramaic word Ge’itta, meaning "roar" or "noise".

Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم‎) (born February 26, 1966) is a multi-platinum, best-selling Lebanese Arab female recording artist and philanthropist, who has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Najwa, widely known for her Mawwal and other musical talents, has faced musical limits in building her stardom. Having effectively helped change the Arabic music industry in its outreach, Najwa has left her mark by creating and introducing her own blend of traditional and contemporary Arabic Music. That blend has defined her image and her music in the Middle East and throughout the world, and has contributed to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music. Najwa holds the titles of highest-selling Middle Eastern Artist for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2008.

Najwa's singing career began with moderate success with her debut album Ya Habayeb, in 1989. Her second album, Shams el-Ghinnieh achieved greater success, earning her well-known title, "Shams el-Ghinnieh" ("The Sun of Song"). But Najwa's major successes were to come in the mid-1990s, when she would rise to new heights of fame and popularity in both the Arabic and International music worlds.

Wadih El Safi (Arabic: وديع الصافي‎, Classical Syriac: ܘܕܝܥ ܐܠܨܦܝ‎) (born Wadi' Francis in Niha, Lebanon, in 1921) is a Lebanese singer songwriter, and actor. He is a Lebanese cultural icon, and is often called the "Voice of Lebanon". Wadih El Safi started his artistic journey at the age of seventeen when he took part in a singing contest held by Lebanese Radio and was chosen the winner among fifty other competitors.

El Safi is a classically trained tenor, having studied at the Beirut National Conservatory of Music. He became nationally known when, at seventeen, he won a vocal competition sponsored by the Lebanese Broadcasting Network. El Safi began composing and performing songs that drew upon his rural upbringing and love of traditional melodies, blended with an urban sound, and creating a new style of modernized Lebanese folk music. He performed in venues throughout the Middle East.

In 1947, El Safi traveled to Brazil, where he remained until 1950. After his return to Lebanon, El Safi continued to develop folk music and chose poetry and zajal to inspire patriotism and focus on love, devotion, morals and values.