Hermon nature reserve

Hermon nature reserve (שמורת חרמון) is a nature reserve located in the north of the Golan Heights, which was declared a nature reserve on December 6, 1974. The reserve includes an area in southern Mount Hermon which is located in the Israeli occupied portion of the Golan Heights. The reserve excludes the Mount Hermon ski resort, Neve Ativ and the Nimrod Fortress. The total area of the reserve is 18,842 acres (76,250 dunam).^{[citation needed]}

Vegetation: due to the height of the mountain the growth and the blooming begins at the top of the mountain in August, instead of the spring.

Fauna: the common birds in the reserve include White-throated Robin, Western Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit and Northern Wheatear. There are many species of butterflies, of which 23 are unique to the Hermon nature reserve and do not exist in Israel. The common reptiles in the reserve include the Vipera bornmuelleri and the Four-lined snake.

One of the loveliest parts is the Hermon nature's reserve containing pretty waterfalls, riverbanks and reminders of an ancient temple dedicated to the God Pann. An important part of this reserve is the Banias spring that lies on the foot of Mt. Hermon, where it meets the Golan heights. The most hiked route in the reserve is climbing to the Banias Cave through the trail that goes through the spring. Deep archaeological digging have discovered the five niches shaped out of the rock to the right of the cave. These remainders are from the Hellenistic and Roman temples described in artistic interpretation. Three of the niches carry messages in Greek, mentioning Pann the tune lover, echo, the nymphs under the mountains and Galerius which is one of Pan's clergymen. All former references to the cave's characteristics where changed by earthquakes that have modified the scenery making the water come from the bottom of the cave instead of from its inside. ^[1]

In 1905 the botanist Aaron Aaronsohn discovered 'the mother of wheat' (Triticum dicoccoides) on the eastern slopes of Mount Hermon. In its time, this was a discovery of the greatest importance, as there were plans to hybridize 'wild wheat' with other cultivars to produce a grain more easily grown in inhospitable locations. Eventually, this plan was abandoned; it didn't work.

References

v t e Nature reserves of Israel Northern District Ein Afek Akhziv Islands Alonei Yitzhak Alonei Abba Nahal Amud Nahal Ayun Balfouria Bitan Aharon Nahal Betzet Nahal Dishon Dor Beach and Ma'agan Michael Islands Ein Avazim Ein Elah Ein Nymphit Ein Te'oh Ein Yehuda Nahal Gamal Gamla nature reserve† Snir Stream Hermon nature reserve† Nahal Hermon† Hula Valley Hurshat Tal Hurshat Zakum Kerem Ben Zimra Nahal Kziv Mount Arbel Mount Carmel Mount Gilboa Mount Meron Mount Tabor Pa'ar Cave Rosh HaNikra Shamir-Nahal Rachum Shimron Nahal Taninim Tel Anafa Nahal Tavor Tel Dan Tel Shikmona Nahal Yehiam Central District Adullam Ashdod Nitzanim Sand Dune Park Bnei Zion Avshalom Cave Hadasim Ein Hemed Gador HaMasrek Reserve Har HaTayasim Neot Kedumim Nahal Poleg Nahal Sorek Nitzanim dunes Palmachim beach Tel Yitzhak Te'omim Cave Udim Wadi Og Southern District Ein Gedi Craters in the Negev HaMakhtesh HaGadol HaMakhtesh HaKatan Makhtesh Ramon Eilat Region Coral Beach Nature Reserve Timna Valley Yotvata Hai-Bar † Located in the Israeli-occupied territories

Coordinates: 33°16′34.92″N 35°43′3.61″E / 33.2763667°N 35.7176694°E / 33.2763667; 35.7176694