Marneef Cave
Al Marnif Cave lies in Shatti Al Mughsayl area about 40 kilometres from Salalah in Governorate of Dhofar.
Driving westward from Salalah, a winding road meanders through the rocky coastal plains, eventually leading to the pristine white sands of Al Mughsail Beach. The journey along this coastal route offers a scenic drive, with the meeting point of the road and the sea marking the beginning of a captivating stretch of shoreline. At the far end of the beach lies Marneef Cave, perched atop a limestone rock formation, providing a stunning vantage point overlooking the blowholes and the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, framed by rugged mountains.
Despite its name, Marneef Cave is not a traditional cave but rather a vast open-sided limestone rock shelter. The natural overhang of the rock creates a sheltered area, offering visitors an ideal spot to admire the panoramic seascape of Al Mughsail and catch a glimpse of the blowholes in action.
A short five-minute walk from the rock shelter leads to the blowholes, with a wooden gallery bordering the path for added safety, especially near the blowholes where the crashing waves meet the rocky shoreline.
The Al Mughsail blowholes are a fascinating natural phenomenon, formed by the force of seawater surging into underwater rock cavities. These blowholes consist of three small openings in the rock, from which jets of seawater shoot into the air with a distinctive sound resembling that of air being released from a tap. During the Khareef season, when the sea is rough, the blowholes can be particularly impressive, with water spray reaching heights of 25 to 30 meters, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for visitors to behold.
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