There are so many natural wonders in this nation, rich in history, and closely tied with the existence of Jesus’ short life on earth. It is called the Holy Land because of its association with the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The nation also holds important religious significance among Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
At just 20,770 square kilometers, Israel is one of the smallest countries. The population is just over 9.1 million people. One of the things that people immediately relate to Israel is the Dead Sea. There are myriad ways a tourist could immortalize what swimming in the Dead Sea looks like in photos. The marine resource is the lowest point on earth and has a high salt concentration, which explains why people float on it. The Dead Sea mud is also known to have curative elements, believed to be good for the skin.
The Old City of Jerusalem also contains the most significant religious attractions including the Wailing Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock. But the national parks in Israel are also worth visiting. There are so many of them, by the way. There are more than 400 national parks and national reserves in this Asian country. However, a lot of them have been preserved for their archeological significance rather than environmental importance.
Here are the top 10 unexplored national parks in Israel:
1. Alexander River National Park
Located in the Emek Hefer region, the park’s centerpiece is the Alexander River. The 32-kilometer river had been heavily polluted. The government restored the river and protected it, which explains the establishment of various parks. The river traverses through various parks, one of them being this eponymous park.
The park is located where the river meets the Mediterranean just north of the moshav of Beit Yannai. There is a beach that is considered one of the best in the entire country. The river is the home to many soft-shell turtles some growing as much as 1.2 meters in length. The average weight of the large turtles is around 50 kilograms. The river is also home to indigenous catfish, mullet, river eel, and tilapia. The river is also popular among waterfowl like the coots and nutrias.
Several hiking and biking trails follow the path of the Alexander River. The hike is expected to be a lively one, especially with the presence of the large turtles that tourists may feed with some junk food.
2. Ein Avdat National Park
This park comprises a massive canyon that is part of the Negev Desert. Most of the national parks in Israel aim to protect archeological sites, and this park is no different. However, the natural wonder that is the canyon claims a big part of the reason why this area needs to be protected.
The park is a marvel with its imposing cliffs and beautiful rock layers. It is part of the largest valley in the Negev. The riverbed spans 120 kilometers. While the river may be the main body of water in every canyon, Ein Avdat’s natural pools are just as exciting. The park is home to some waterfalls and natural pools. The spring has a Byzantine fortress in the backdrop.
The southernmost spring is known as the Ein Ma’arif. In the northern part of the park is a 15-meter waterfall, which flows into an eight-meter pool. Also in the northern area is the Ein Mor, which is named after the spice called myrrh. Vegetation is sparse in the park but in areas where plants thrive, there are saltbush and poplar trees. The former is mostly seen in riverbanks.
As for archeological sites, the park holds proof that the area was inhabited in the prehistoric era, some 85,000 years ago. Among the artifacts found were flints with a hint of Mousterian culture, and man-made knives from different periods. There was also proof of the presence of ostriches and onagers, through the former’s eggs and the latter’s bones found in the park.
During the Byzantine period, the park became home to monks who lived in caves. Among the evidence are the carved shelves and benches, as well as writings like crosses and prayers.
3. Ein Gedi Antiquities National Park
The Ein Gedi translates to the “spring of the kid.” The park is an oasis located in the west of the Dead Sea. One of its attractions is the best natural water sources in the country called David Falls. Overlooking the Ein Geid is The Window of Dry Fall, a unique rock formation in the park.
The park is not just significant for its natural beauty but also its historical and archeological importance. Pre-Pottery Neolithic flint tools and arrowheads were found in the Mikveh Cave in the park. A temple with Ghassulian impression was also unearthed in the park between two springs: Ein Gedi and Ein Shulamit.
4. Eshkol National Park
This park is just mostly greenery that is perfect for picnics. But the centerpiece of the park is the Ein Habesor Spring, which is the largest spring in southern Israel. The park is shrouded with expansive grasslands and peppered with large trees mostly palm trees.
Just east of the spring is the mount of Khirbet Shellal. During the First World War’s Second Battle of Gaza, soldiers found a floor mosaic featuring different kinds of animals. It was later understood to be part of the ruins of a Byzantine church. The mosaic, though, had been removed and is currently displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
5. HaSharon Park
This park is characterized by a large forest with a thriving population of carob and Mount Tabor oak trees. The former is a flowering evergreen shrub, usually cultivated for its edible pods. It may also be utilized as an ornamental tree. The Mount Tabor oak tree, on the other hand, is a species from the beech family. These oak trees provide the perfect shade as the branches and leaves shroud a large area.
The entire area used to be covered by swamps, but authorities noted that it barred the lands from being cultivated. The swamp also caused malaria. Mosquitoes thrive in dirty water like a swamp. So authorities dried out the swamp and planted some eucalyptus trees.
One of the main attractions of the park is the beach, which contains some eolianite hills. But while visitors can relax at the beach, a large part is mostly occupied by marine animals. The sandy part also contains some plants typical of an arid desert topography.
6. Hurshat Tal National Park
The park is located in the northern section of the Hula Valley, which is an agricultural region characterized by an abundance of freshwater. There is a stream that goes through the park that is sourced from the Dan River. This has been turned into a swimming pool for visitors to partake in. There is also a nearby fishing park that is also open to visitors.
There is a part of the park that is also open for camping. There is a great shade around the park because of the presence of Valonia oak trees, some of which are believed to be over 350 years old. Legend has it that Muhammad stopped by the area with 10 companions. They couldn’t find trees to tie their horses so they stuck their walking sticks on the ground. The sticks eventually grew to become the trees in the park, which is also considered a local Muslim holy site.
7. Lanvin Ridge Nature Reserve and Park
This is an archeological site that can be traced back to the Late Bronze Age. The site is located in Israel’s Adullam region. According to historical accounts, an exploration in the area from 1874 to 1874 uncovered many caves. In those caves were around 120 niches, which seemed like they were used as urns. Evidence suggests that those urns were used during the rebellion of the Jews during the first century.
Other archeological discoveries within the area were a lion’s den, ritual bath, burial tombs, and Byzantine era graffiti on walls. At the top of the hill, a decorated lintel rests. There is also an area with two pits and an arched vault made of ashlar stones. There are also stone ruins from structures in the different periods.
The park also has a thriving plant life with a lot of endemic species. Among them are the buckthorn, kermes oak, lentisk, strawberry tree, and terebinth. Among the birds that could be spotted in the park are black-headed bunting, bulbul, honey-sucker, partridge, and titmouse. There are also agamid lizards and hares. Mongoose and honey-badger have been noted but they are not commonly sighted.
8. Ma’ayan Harod National Park
The Well of Harod or Spring of Harod is the park’s centerpiece. The spring is called Ayn Jalut in Arabic meaning the Spring of Goliath. The well is rich in religious history. But the well is also really beautiful with its clear blue waters, which perfectly complement the surrounding grassland. It is also outlined with large trees. According to the Bible, military leader Gideon chose 300 soldiers in this area based on how they drank the water from the Well of Harod.
9. Ramon Park
Known locally as Makhtesh Ramon, the park is located at the peak of Mount Negev, which in turn, is in the Negev Desert. The park is then expected to have the same arid topography. The park is centered around the crater known as the Makhtesh Ramon. It may be called a crater but it was not created like most naturally-formed craters: either through volcanic eruption or from the impact of a fallen meteor. Instead, this crater was naturally created through erosion cirque. Its shape is described as an elongated heart, which is 40 kilometers long and has a width that changes between two and 10 kilometers. It is also 500 meters deep.
The deepest point of the crater is the Ein Saharonim or the Saharonim Spring. It is the park’s only natural water source. The same water provides hydration to the park’s resident animals, the onagers, and ibexes. Other animals found in the park are the Arabian leopards, Asian wild asses, Dorcas gazelles, and striped hyenas.
Aside from the actual crater, tourists also marvel at the colors reflected by the rocks and clay hills of the park—they radiate red and yellow colors. This is due to various geological activities including oxidation. The crater is also surrounded by mountains: Har Ardon, Har Katum, Har Marpek, and Har Ramon. There is also the Giv’at Ga’ash, which is a black hill that was once an active volcano. Near that is the Shen Ramon, which is a rock made of magma.
10. Yarkon National Park
There are two sections in this park: the Yarkon and the Aphek. The Yarkon represents the nature part, whereas the latter refers to the archeological significance of the park. The ecological part centers on the Yarkon River, which is 27.5 kilometers long. The majority of it, around 17.7 kilometers is covered by the park. It used to be Israel’s river with the greatest flow capacity. In 1955, the government started pumping water from the Yarkon to the Negev, which is a desert area and is in much need of water. It eventually lost its luster. This is why the government is currently undergoing the Yarkon Redemption Project to return the river to what it used to be.
Among the activities in the Yarkon Springs Area are the walking tour that goes through wooden piers installed along the river path, as well as the romantic path canopied with vegetation; visiting the Yarkon Bream Pool, which is a breeding facility in order to keep the population or Yarkon bream alive in the park; touring the Al-Mir Flour Mill, which is a mill that operated during the Ottoman Period, and camping at the park’s campgrounds.
While the Aphek area is mostly an archeological wonder, there are also various natural resources in the section like the Squill Trail that visitors may walk through and the paddling pools for canoeing and kayaking. In terms of archeological sites, the park has the Antipatris Fort, as well as some ruins from defensive walls built during the Bronze Age.