National parks and nature reserves of Israel

National parks and nature reserves of Israel
Masada National Park
Ruins of the Ancient Synagogue at Bar'am National Park
Natural warm water pool at Gan HaShlosha
Shivta National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ashdod Nitzanim Sand Dune Park

The national parks of Israel are declared historic sites or nature reserves, which are mostly operated and maintained by the National Nature and Parks Authority. Today, the national parks of Israel encompass 67 protected areas. Some of them are located in regions beyond the Green Line.

Some of the national parks have been undergoing many development processes through the years and the entrance to them requires payment of a fee and they are only open on specific times during the day time. Other national parks have stayed for the time being in its natural form, except for trails marks, fences and public safety rails which have been installed. Some of the National Parks include picnic sites and special designated places for grilling or igniting bonfires, or active recreational sites for children and adults.

Some of the National Parks are located at archaeological sites - such as Tel Megiddo, Beit She'an, Ashkelon and Kursi. Other national parks, such as the Alexander stream, Mount Carmel National Park or Hurshat Tal are concentrated on the nature and their main purpose is to allow the public to have recreation tours near water, trees and view animals in natural habitat.

Contents

History

Israel lies in the geographical area known as Palestine, or in Jewish culture as the Land of Israel. During the 19th century, this region was sparsely populated, with population ranging between 275-475 thousand people[1]. Waves of immigration that began in the middle of this century, expanded the local population needs. Forests were cut down to supply coal combustion, both for heating and industry. Turkish railway locomotives began operating towards the end of the century, are also consumed coal.

Templar, who came to Israel began in the seventies of the 19th century, brought with them sophisticated shotguns, quickly adopted by local peasants. Twentieth-century transition also not bode well for the animals caught in large numbers: the First World War was characterized by massive acquisition of firearms. Early 20th century, hunted last crocodile creek crocodile. Large animals such as ostriches, deer, fallow deer, Syrian Brown Bears, onagers and cheetahs were all extinct.

As a result, the Mandatory government eventually began making laws which were aimed at saving the flora and fauna in Palestine. In 1924 a Hunting Act was published and in 1926 a Forest Ordinance were published. Many sites, such as the forests of mount Caramel and Mount Meron, were declared as forest reserves; certain trees were declared protected.

With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 the protection of wildlife did not change much. The newly created state focused mainly on its economic development and the immigrant absorption. Tens of thousands of acres of swamps, which attract many species of plants and animals, were dried out. Streams were contaminated following the agricultural and industrial development. Many Wilderness landscapes were doomed due to the accelerated construction and establishment of hundreds of new settlements.

In 1953 the Knesset passed the "Protection Law of Wildlife" (חוק הגנת חיות-הבר) and the Minister of Agriculture was appointed for its implementation. In 1955, the department for the improvement of the country's landscape (המחלקה לשיפור נוף הארץ) was established in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, which was assigned the establishment of tourist infrastructure. The department established a number of well-known national parks, such as Gan HaShlosha, Caesarea, Shivta and Avdat. Following the drying of the Hula Lake and the public pressure, the Hula Reserve was established, which was the first declared nature reserve in Israel (in 1964). In 1963 the Knesset approved the "National parks and nature reserves act" (חוק הגנים הלאומיים ושמורות הטבע) (the legislation process of the law began already in 1956). As a result, two authorities were established: the National Parks Authority and the Nature Reserves Authority. In 1998 the two authorities were merged into one body - Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

Parks and reserves

National parks

Name Region
Akhziv Beach National Park Northern district: Western Galilee
Alexander River National Park Central district
Ashkelon National Park Central district: Southern coast
Avdat National Park Southern district: The Negev
Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve Northern district: Upper Galilee
Bar'am National Park Northern district: Upper Galilee
Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Beit Guvrin National Park Central district
Beit She'an National Park Northern district: Beit She'an valley
Beit She'arim National Park Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Caesarea National Park Northern district: Sharon plain coast
Castel National Park Central district: Jerusalem corridor
Cochav Hayarden National Park Northern district: Lower Galilee
Korazim National Park Northern district: Upper Galilee
National Park at Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's Grave Southern district: The Negev
Ein Avdat National Park Southern district: The Negev
Ein Gedi Antiquities National Park Southern district: Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Ein Hemed National Park Central district: Jerusalem corridor
Eshkol National Park (Besor) Southern district: The Negev
Gan Hashlosha National Park Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Hamat Tiberias National Park Northern district: Sea of Galilee
Harod Spring National Park Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Herodion National Park1 Southern district: Judean Desert/West bank
Hermon National Park1 Northern district: Golan Heights
Kursi National Park1 Northern district: Golan Heights
Hurshat Tal National Park Northern district: Upper Galilee
Mamshit National Park Southern district: The Negev
Masada National Park Southern district: Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Mount Carmel National Park Northern district: Mt. Carmel
Nimrod Fortress National Park (Qal‘at Namrud)1 Northern district: Golan Heights
Qumran National Park1 Southern district: Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Ramon Park Complex Southern district: The Negev
Sharon National Park Central district: Sharon plain
Shivta National Park Southern district: The Negev
Shomron National Park1 Central district: Samaria/West bank
Tel Arad National Park Southern district: Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Tel Be'er Sheva National Park Southern district: The Negev
Tel Hazor National Park Northern district: Upper Galilee
Tel Megiddo National Park Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Yarkon National Park Central district: Yarkon River, and central Israel
Yehi'am Fortress National Park Northern district: Upper Galilee
Zippori National Park Northern district: Lower Galilee and the valleys

Nature reserves

As of May 2007, there are 190 Israeli nature reserves.[2]

Name Region
Alonei Yitzhak Northern district
Alonei Abba Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Nahal Amud Northern district: Upper Galilee
Ashdod Nitzanim Sand Dune Park Central district: Shephelah, southern Israeli Coastal Plain
Avshalom (Stalactites) Cave Central district: Central Israel
Nahal Betzet Northern district: Upper Galilee
Balfouria Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Bitan Aharon Northern district: Sharon plain
Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve Northern district: Mt. Carmel
Coral Beach Nature Reserve Eilat region: Eliat and the Arava
Dor and Ma'agan Michael beach islands Northern district: Mt. Carmel coast
Ein Afek Nature Reserve Northern district: Western Galilee
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve Southern district: Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Ein Tzukim Nature Reserve Southern district:Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
Gamla Nature Reserve1 Northern district: Golan Heights
Hurshat Tal Northern district: Upper Galilee
Hula Valley Nature Reserve Northern district: Hula Valley
Kerem Ben Zimra Northern district: Upper Galilee
Nahal Kziv Northern district: Upper Galilee
Mount Arbel Northern district: Lower Galilee
Mount Gilboa Northern district
Mount Meron Northern district: Upper Galilee
Mount Tabor Northern district: Lower Galilee
Nahal Tavor Northern district: Lower Galilee
Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve Northern district: Mt. Carmel
Nahal Ayun Northern district: Upper Galilee
Neot Kedumim Central district: near Modi'in and the Ben Shemen forest
Pa'ar Cave Northern district: Upper Galilee
Nahal Poleg Central district: Sharon Plain
Rosh HaNikra Northern district: Western Galilee
Shimron Northern district: Jezreel Valley
Nahal Taninim Northern district: Mt. Carmel coast
Tel Dan Nature Reserve Northern district: Upper Galilee
Tel Anafa Northern district: Upper Galilee
Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve1 Northern district: Golan Heights, Sea of Galilee, and Galilee
Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve Eilat region: Eliat and the Arava
Zakum (Maoz Haim) Northern district: Beit She'an valley

1Located in the Israeli-occupied territories.

See also

References

  1. ^ Benny Moris, "Righteous Victims - A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001"
  2. ^ http://www.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~660964978~Card13~&ru=&SiteName=parks&Clt=&Bur=351331723

External links


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