Nahal Alexander

Nahal Alexander

Alexander stream
Physical characteristics
Length 28 mi (45 km)

Nahal Alexander (Hebrew: נחל אלכסנדר‎‎) is a river in Israel that flows from the western side of the Samaria mountain belt in the West Bank[1] to the Mediterranean Sea, north of Netanya. The length of the river is about 45 km. Several small streams flow into Nahal Alexander: Nablus, Te'enim, Ometz, Bahan, and Avihail. Most of the river is located in the Hefer Valley.

Soft-shell turtles at Nahal Alexander

Flora and fauna

Nahal Alexander is the habitat of soft-shell turtles that can reach a size of 1.20 meters and weigh up to 50 kilograms. In addition to giant turtles, there are coots and other waterfowl, nutrias and swamp cats. Indigenous fish include catfish, tilapia, river eels and mullet.[2] On the southern bank there are shifting sand dunes and on the northern bank, a eucalyptus grove.[3]

History

Nahal Alexander, near Turtle Bridge

Hurvat Samra, an ancient ruin on a hill overlooking Nahal Alexander, may have been a customs station for goods transported down the river to the port near the estuary.[3]

Beit Yanai beach is located where the river flows into the Mediterranean.[4] North of the beach are remnants of a quay built in 1938, during the British Mandate. It was used for clandestine Jewish immigration to Palestine when British authorities turned away ships of European Jews fleeing the Nazis.[3]

In the winter of 1991, Nahal Alexander overflowed and most of its soft-shelled turtle population drifted into the Mediterranean. When the remaining eggs that failed to hatch, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority launched a project to collect the eggs, incubate them and return the turtles to the water.[5]

In 2003, Nahal Alexander was part of a cleanup project that won first prize in the Riverprize environmental rehabilitation competition in Australia.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Becker, Nir; Friedler, Eran (2012-06-06). "Integrated hydro-economic assessment of restoration of the Alexander-Zeimar River (Israel-Palestinian Authority)". Regional Environmental Change. 13 (1): 103–114. ISSN 1436-3798. doi:10.1007/s10113-012-0318-1.
  2. ↑ "Israel's rivers: Back from the dead". Jerusalem Post. June 11, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nahal Alexander park". Israel Nature and Parks Authority. December 31, 2009.
  4. ↑ Beit Yannai beach yields serenity on winter weekdays
  5. 1 2 The Best Kept Secret of Emek Hefer: Nahal Alexander & Turtles

Coordinates: 32°23′46.08″N 34°51′56.53″E / 32.3961333°N 34.8657028°E / 32.3961333; 34.8657028

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