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

National parks of Israel are declared historic sites or nature reserves, which are mostly operated and maintained by the National Nature and Parks Authority. As of 2005, Israel maintains more than 150 nature reserves that protect 2,500 species of indigenous wild plants, 20 species of fish, 400 species of birds and 70 species of mammals.^[1]

Some parks are located at archaeological sites such as Tel Megiddo, Beit She'an, Ashkelon and Kursi. Others, such as the Alexander stream, Mount Carmel National Park or Hurshat Tal focus on nature and the preservation of local flora and fauna. Several parks and nature reserves have camping options, such as tent grounds and bungalows, open to small groups and individual campers.^[2] Some of them are located in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights and the West Bank.

In 2011, the most popular national parks were Yarkon National Park, Caesarea, Ein Gedi and Tel Dan.^[3]

History

Shivta National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site

During the 19th century, the region was sparsely populated, with a population between 275,000 and 475,000.^[4] Waves of immigration expanded local population needs. Forests were cut down to supply coal for heating, industry and the Turkish railway. The German Templars brought with them shotguns, quickly adopted by local peasants. The First World War was characterized by massive acquisition of firearms. By the early 20th century, hunting threatened the extinction of crocodiles, Arabian ostriches, deers, fallow deers, Syrian brown bears, onagers, Asiatic lions and Asiatic cheetahs.

As a result, the British Mandatory government passed laws aimed at saving the local flora and fauna. In 1924 a Hunting Act was published and in 1926 a Forest Ordinance were published. Many sites, such as the forests of Mount Carmel and Mount Meron, were declared forest reserves; certain trees were declared protected.

In 1953 the Knesset passed the Wildlife Protection Law (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 Lake Hula 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

Nitzanim Sand Dune Park, Ashdod

Korazim National Park

National parks of Israel

Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve - World Heritage Site

Crusader ruins at Ein Hemed National Park

Nahal Taninim in northern Israel

Nature reserves of Israel

¹Located in the Israeli-occupied territories.

See also

• Tourism in Israel
• Culture of Israel
• Archaeology of Israel

References

External links

• Nature and Parks Authority Official Site

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