The Landscape of Israel
Israel is a dynamic country in the Csa climate region. It has a
diverse topography that ranges from mountainous regions to coastal plains.
Politically, Israel is the most divisive country in the Middle East. Israel is
located in Southwestern Asia between the Mediterranean Sea, and the deserts of
Syria and Arabia. It has a diverse geographical as well as political profile.
Israel’s history spans
over 3,500 years as recorded in the Bible. Culturally and politically, Israel
is the most diverse country in the Middle East.
Jewish culture was formed in Israel even after the majority of Israelis
were exiled over 2,000 years ago. No other nation can assert stronger
religious, political, and legal rights to a country than the Jewish people have
to Israel. After the persecution of the Holocaust during WW2, the Jewish people
began a mass exodus back to Israel. In 1948 after millennia of oppression and
wandering, Israel was again the land of the Jewish people. Despite outstanding challenges, Israel has
thrived in scientific, political, and military study. It has become a giant for
world peace and global progress. The official language of Israel is Hebrew but
Arabic is also a leading language that can be heard throughout the market
places.[i] People
of any religion and ethnic groups who live in Israel are allowed to serve in
the Israeli Defense Force as well as vote in the national and regional
elections. Women are also allowed to serve in any capacity that they choose.
This makes Israel the freest state in the Middle East. Most of the nations
surrounding Israel have never accepted Israel as a nation and have rejected
Israel’s offers of peace. Terrorism against Israel is a very real threat to
civilians and Israel has become a leading expert in anti-terrorism. With all
the animosity against her, Israel still holds the olive branch of peace to her
neighbors.
Israel is divided
into three major topographical regions along its length. The coastal plain, the
mountain region, and the Jordan Valley Rift. The coastal plain stretches along the
country’s western tip from Rosh Ha-Nikra in the north to the Sinai Peninsula in
the south. In the north, the plain is some 4-7 kilometers wide. Expanding to
about 50 kilometers as you travel southward. Soil in the coastal plain is
fertile made up of two types of river deposit: one dark and heavy ideal for
growing field crops while the other is thin and sandy ideal for citrus crops. Centered between the coastal plain and the
Jordan Valley Rift, mountain region spreads from Lebanon in the north to Eliat
Bay in the south. Its highest peaks are Galilea’s Mt. Meron at 1,208 meters
above sea level, Samaria’s Mt. Ba’al Hatsor at 1,016 meters high, and Negev’s
Mt. Ramon at 1,037 meters above sea level. The continuity of the mountain chain
is broken in two points by major valleys. Between the Galilean mountains and
the Samarian hills, the Yizre’el or Jezre’el valley separates the mountain
chain. The Be’er Sheva-Arad Rift separates the Judean hills from the Negev
highlands. The third topographical region is the Jordan Valley Rift which
extends the entire length of Israel from the northern town of Metula to the Red
Sea in the south. The rift is part of the Afro-Syrian rift which extends from
the Syrian-Turkish border to the Zambezi River in Africa. Israel’s largest
river, the Jordan, flows through the Jordan Valley and includes Israel’s two
lakes: the Kinneret (Sea of Galilea) the largest body of fresh water in Israel
and the salt water Dead Sea, the lowest point on land. The Jordan valley is
split north to south into the Hula Valley, the Kinneret Valley, the Jordan
Valley, the Dead Sea Valley, and the Arava.[ii]
Israel is
characterized as a subtropical region of 22°-33° north between a temperate zone
and a tropical zone. It’s northern and coastal regions show Mediterranean
climate distinguished by hot dry summers and cool rainy winters. Whereas the
southern and eastern regions are arid climates. Most of the land are is of the
Csa climate characterized while there is also a portion of the Bwh climate. Of the land area, 20.9% has a semi-arid steppe
climate, 40.5% has an arid desert climate, and 38.7% has a temperate
mesothermal climate with dry summers[iii]. The
rainy season extends from October to early May with rainfall reaching a climax
in December through February. Rainfall varies considerably throughout the
region with the highest in the Northern or central parts of the country and
decreasing in the southern portion of Israel, from the Negev Desert to the
Eliat where rainfall is almost null. Heavy
snowfall can only be found in the northernmost part of the Golan heights where
the Mt. Hermon summit remains generally snow covered from December to March. In
other parts of the country, snow is rarely observed.[iv]
Israel’s flora and
fauna is very diverse in part due to its geographical location on the junction
of three continents. Some 2,600 plants have been identified ranging from alpine
species on the northern mountain slopes to Saharan species in the Arava to the
south. Israel is the northernmost limit of such species as the papyrus reed and
the southernmost limit of others like the bright red coral peony. Natural
woodlands, consisting mostly of calliprinos oaks, cover parts of Galilee, Mt.
Carmel and other hilly areas. In spring, the rockrose and thorny broom
predominate while honeysuckle creeps along bushes and plane trees provide shade
along the freshwater streams of the Galilee. The Negev highlands are home to
massive Atlantic pistachios and date palms grow wherever there is sufficient
ground water. Cultivated flowers like the iris, Madonna lily, tulip, and
hyacinth all have relatives among the wildflowers of Israel. From December to March, cyclamen and anemones
bloom with blue lupin and yellow corn marigold flowering a little later. Many
native plants like the crocus and squill are geophytes which store nutrients in
bulbs or tubers and bloom at the end of the summer. There are over 135 species
of butterflies that find their home in Israel. With over 500 species of birds
can be seen, the common bulbul, coots, and starlings find plenty of sustenance
in the fields and fish ponds of Israel. Including
honey buzzards, pelicans, raptor species such as eagles, falcons, and hawks to
little sylvia warblers and goldcrests, Israel is very diverse. Delicate mountain gazelles roam the hills
while foxes, jungle cats, and other mammals reside in the wooded areas. Nubian
Ibex leap majestically over desert crags. Chameleons, snakes, and agama lizards
are among the 100-reptile species native to Israel. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority strives
to protect the landscape and natural environment for the native species. Over
150 nature reserves and 65 national parks are established throughout the
country under the INPA’s supervision, they encompass some 400 sq. kilometers.
Stringent laws have been enacted for the preservation of nature and wildlife
that make it illegal to pick even the most common roadside flowers. The Society
for the Protection of Nature is Israel’s largest environmental organization
that oversees dozens of campaigns against the eradication of ecosystems and
landscapes.[v]
[i]
http://fellowship.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/inside/israel_101
[ii]
http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Pages/Geography%20and%20Nature.aspx
[iii]
http://www.israel.climatemps.com/
[iv]
http://www.science.co.il/Weather/Israel-Climate.php
A research paper I wrote last semester for my College Geography class.
~Natalie Kniffin~
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