By Michael Marcus
This is Israel in a nutshell: a land of diverse regions, even more diverse people, and fascinating history, both ancient and modern. It's a land of religious meaning, political controversy and high-tech know-how, nestled at the crossroads of the Old World.
The Diversity of Israel
For a small country, Israel shows a lot of regional diversity. From the harsh deserts of the Negev, to the lush slopes of the Hermon Mountain, from the flat Mediterranean coast to the rugged hills of the Galilee, Israel's geography packs a lot of range into a small area.
Israel is not just a place for great scenery, however. This little country is the ancestral home of two of the world's major religions and the historic crossroads between Africa, Asia and Europe. From any tourist's perspective, Israel has got it all.
In the North
There are two main regions in the north of Israel: the Galilee and the Golan. The Galilee extends from the northern border south to the Jezreel Valley, and from the Mediterranean coast east to the Huleh Valley and Lake Kinneret. The Golan is the volcanic plateau to the east of the Huleh Valley and the Kinneret. It's an interesting study in contrasts; the Huleh Valley slopes downward from north to south and the Kinneret is more than 600 feet below sea level. The Golan ridge line, however, only a few miles away, is more than 3,000 feet above sea level.
While the Golan is sparsely populated, with only one large town, the Galilee is dotted with small cities and smaller villages. On the Mediterranean coast are the cities of Acco and Haifa, with the suburban, industrialized towns of the Krayot between them. Haifa is known as a seaport, a chemical manufacturing center and a university town; Acco is one of the oldest cities in the world, and was a provincial capital under the Ottoman Turks. Don't miss Acco's walled Old City, where the relics of Crusader, Turk, French, and British influence are still visible, piled on top of each other.
In the Middle
Heading south from the Galilee, you'll reach the center of the country, the combination of Mediterranean seashore and rugged inland hills colloquially called by Israelis "haMerkaz," Hebrew for "the Center."
On the coast, Tel Aviv is the social and financial center of Israel. Walking the streets, watching the hustle and bustle of city life in cafes and shopping malls, office towers and crazy Israeli taxi drivers, it's hard to believe that only 100 years ago, this sprawling metropolis was mostly sand dunes.
Jerusalem, sitting high in the Judean Hills, is the national capital, and the holiest city in Judaism, making it both the political center of the country and the spiritual center of the Jewish people. The Old City of Jerusalem, with its 450-year-old Turkish fortification walls, was the only city until the first suburbs were built in the 1860s. Old Jerusalem is holy to the Jewish and Christian religions, and contains two important Islamic shrines.
Along the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as you enter the hills, you may see the painted-over wrecks of old vehicles. These are memorials to the siege of Jerusalem during Israel's War of Independence. While some of the jeeps and trucks are sculptures, others are actual wrecks of Haganah vehicles that were destroyed while trying to resupply the Israeli capital.
Down South
The city of Gedera, now a southern suburb of Tel Aviv, once marked the northern boundary of the Negev Desert. Land reclamation, irrigation, and agricultural projects have since pushed the desert boundary below Be'er Sheva, but you'll still feel the harsh desert sun.
The southern triangle of Israel, the Negev Desert, is known for its parched climate, high heat and tremendous natural beauty. It's a rocky desert, and the infrequent rains and more frequent dust storms have weathered the rocks into otherworldly shapes.
There's also a modern feeling here. Ambitious irrigation projects have made the desert bloom in places, and modern tourism and mineral exploration bring in a steady stream of visitors and income. At the southern tip of the country, still in the Negev but also on the shore of the Red Sea Gulf of Eilat, sits the resort city of Eilat, with its luxury hotels, restaurants and beaches. You can swim with dolphins, snorkel on a coral reef or visit an underwater aquarium.
From the beach at Eilat, it's possible to get a idea of how small Israel is: facing the water, you can see the Jordanian city of Aqaba to the left, the Egyptian town of Taba to the right and a strong swimmer can reach the buoy marking Saudi Arabia's territorial waters.
About the Author:
Michael Marcus is an American writer based in northern Israel, where he has been living since 2004. He has specialized in writing Web content for the last 3 years, producing a variety of informative articles, keyword articles, SEO materials, and marketing materials.
