By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Lebanese will organize cyber voting for choosing the Jeit grotto located northeast of the capital as one of the world’s seven wonders.
Nabil Haddad, the chairman of a company that manages the tourist site, said in an interview with KUNA the first phase of the voting would conclude in the end of 2008 to elect 22 top sites in the world and the process would proceed till 2010.
The Lebanese Jeita caves, located in a mountainous spot northeast of Beirut, now rank 59 among the world’s top tourist attractions after being placed at 72, only two weeks ago.
Haddad urged the Lebanese to take in the ballot for choosing the number-one 21 sites in the world, ahead of the final round for the best seven places.
He also urged the Arabs to take part in the balloting through the site, wonders. com.www.new, noting that each person has seven votes and can cast them only once.
The ancient grotto, of two galleries, a lower one submerged with water and the upper gallery that is accessible on foot, is situated in Al-Kalb River ravine, located 18 kilometers from the capital.
The caves were discovered by a Western explorer, named Thomson, in 1836, and were opened to the public in 1958.
The grotto was chosen, in 2002, as one of the top 27 tourist sites in the globe. It was reopened in July 1995 after it was shut for nearly 20 years as a result of the civil war.