Għar Ħarq Ħamiem (also known as Dragonara or Għar Ħarq il-Ħammiem) is a natural anchialine cave located adjacent to St. George's Bay in St. Julian's, Malta. It is the only known cave of its kind in the country, inhabited by an endemic species of amphipod. The cave consists of two chambers, with an upper accessible chamber that is connected to a lower inaccessible chamber through a narrow underwater corridor. The site, together with Wied Ħarq Ħamiem beside it, was designated as an Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance by the Maltese Government in 2008.
History
Many myths, and legends are associated with this cave, one of which claims that dragons used to inhabit it. It is for this reason that it also goes by the name Dragonara, and also why the nearby beach was named after Saint George, the traditional slayer of dragons.
Geology and hydrology
The upper chamber is accessible via an artificially paved staircase that emerges into the side of the cave. This chamber rises to approximately 10 metres above sea level, and ends up at about 9 metres below sea level. It is in the form of a 20 metre high vault, which is 22 metres wide, and 24 metres long. The lower chamber's floor ends up at about 50 metres below sea level with its roof rising to approximately 18.5 metres below sea level.
A thermocline exists within the first 3 metres of diving, with a chemocline and halocline that may be observed at about 18 metres underwater. This coincides with the varying salinity levels of the water, with freshwater at the top of the cave, that becomes brackish towards the floor of the lower chamber. At the very bottom, the water exhibits sea water characteristics. This implies that the cave is very likely connected to St George's bay nearby, although no path is currently known.
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