Israel is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded on the north by Lebanon, on the northeast by Syria, on the east and southeast by Jordan, on the southwest by Egypt, and on the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Before June 1967, the area composing Israel (resulting from the armistice lines of 1949 and 1950) was about 20 700 km² (8,000 mi²), which included 445 km² (172 mi²) of inland waters. Thus Israel was roughly the size of the state of New Jersey, stretching 424 km (263 mi) from north to south. Its width ranged from 114 km (71 mi) to, at its narrowest point, 15 km (9 mi). In the June 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured territories totaling an additional 7 099 km² (2,743 mi²). These territories include the West Bank, 5 879 km² (2,270 mi²); East Jerusalem (annexed, according Israeli law), 70 km² (27 mi²); and the Golan Heights (de facto annexation), 1 150 km² (444 mi²). Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ... A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ... Combatants Israel Egypt Syria Jordan Iraq Saudi Arabia Commanders Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan, Uzi Narkiss, Israel Tal, Mordechai Hod, Ariel Sharon Abdel Hakim Amer, Abdul Munim Riad, Zaid ibn Shaker, Hafez al-Assad Strength 264,000 (incl. ... A territory is a defined area (including land and waters), usually considered to be a possession of an animal, person, organization, or institution. ... East Jerusalem is that part of Jerusalem which was held by Jordan from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War until the Six-Day War in 1967. ... The Golan Heights (‎ Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: Habat al-Å«lān) or Golan is a mountainous area in northeastern Israel[1] on the border of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

Israel's location in the world

Geographic coordinates: 31°30′N, 34°45′E Image File history File links LocationIsrael. ... Image File history File links LocationIsrael. ...

Physical geography

Geology

Israel is divided east-west by a mountain range running north to south along the coast. Jerusalem sits on the top of this ridge, east of which lies the Dead Sea graben (an elongated, relatively depressed crustal unit bounded by faults on both sides). For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ... USGS image A graben is a depressed block of land bordered by parallel faults. ...

The numerous limestone and sandstone layers of the Israeli mountains allow the water to pour from the west flank to the east. Several springs have formed along the Dead Sea, each an oasis, most notably the oases at Ein Gedi and Ein Bokek where settlements have now developed. Flank is a word which might mean any of several different things: A flank is the side of either a horse or a military unit. ... Shulamit Fall at Nahal David Nahal Arugot An ibex at the Ein Gedi nature reserve Ein Gedi (עין גדי) is an oasis located on the east of the Dead Sea, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran. ...

Israel also has a number of large limestone karsts. The temperature in these caves is a comfortable 20°C or thereabouts, although only one is open to the public. Golden Sun series, see Characters of Golden Sun. ...

Very common all around the country are small natural caves and abris. These have been used for thousands of years historically as shelter, housing, storage rooms, barns and as places of public gatherings.

Mountains and hills

   

Panoramic view of the Golan Heights

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 159 pixels Full resolution (3171 × 631 pixel, file size: 627 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Panorama of the Golan Heights, with the Hermon mountains (left) Photo by beivushtang http://www. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 159 pixels Full resolution (3171 × 631 pixel, file size: 627 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Panorama of the Golan Heights, with the Hermon mountains (left) Photo by beivushtang http://www. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Golan Heights (‎ Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: Habat al-ūlān) or Golan is a mountainous area in northeastern Israel[1] on the border of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. ...

Rivers and lakes

Israel has the Jordan River running along its border with Jordan. The Jordan River eventually empties into the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and its saltiest body of water. Israel also has the Sea of Galilee, actually The Jordan River runs along the border between the West Bank and the Kingdom of Jordan Northern part of the Great Rift Valley as seen from space (NASA) The Jordan River Road sign In spring The Jordan River (Hebrew: נהר הירדן nehar hayarden, Arabic: نهر الأردن nahr al-urdun) is a river in Southwest... The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ...

Artificial waterways

There are no artificial waterways in Israel. The idea of a channel connecting the Mediterranean and Dead Seas or the Red and Dead Seas has been discussed and dismissed.

Coastline

Israel's coastline runs north to south from the border of Lebanon to the Gaza Strip very smoothly with spectacular beaches along the way. The smooth coastline is only interrupted in Haifa where Mount Carmel puts a curve in it. A view of Mount Carmel in 1894 Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain range in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Topography

Annotated satellite image of Israel and the southeastern Mediterranean region

Israel is divided into four main geographical regions: the Mediterranean coastal plain, the Central Hills, the Jordan Rift Valley, and the Negev Desert. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 275 × 599 pixels Full resolution (831 × 1809 pixel, file size: 525 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Annotated satellite image of Israel, the Palestinian territories and western Jordan, highlighting principal geographical features. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 275 × 599 pixels Full resolution (831 × 1809 pixel, file size: 525 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Annotated satellite image of Israel, the Palestinian territories and western Jordan, highlighting principal geographical features. ... The Israeli Coastal Plain (Hebrew: , Mishor HaHof) is a name to the flat and low-lying narrow strip around the Mediterranean Sea. ... Northern section of the Great Rift Valley. ... Rock face in the Negev Desert near Beersheba on the way to Eilat. ...

Mediterranean Coastal Plain

Main article: Israeli Coastal Plain

The Coastal Plain stretches from the Lebanese border in the north to Gaza in the south, interrupted only by Cape Carmel at Haifa Bay. It is about forty kilometers wide at Gaza and narrows toward the north to about five kilometers at the Lebanese border. The region is fertile and humid (historically malarial) and is known for its citrus orchards and viniculture. The plain is traversed by several short streams, of which only three, the Alexander, Yarkon and Kishon, have permanent water flows. The Israeli Coastal Plain (Hebrew: , Mishor HaHof) is a name to the flat and low-lying narrow strip around the Mediterranean Sea. ... Not to be confused with the Spanish name Garza or the Egyptian town of Giza. ... The Gulf of Haifa (also called Haifa Bay) is a small bay along the Mediterranean coast of Northern Israel. ... Soil fertility is the characteristic of soil that supports abundant plant life. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ... Species & major hybrids Species Citrus aurantifolia - Key lime Citrus maxima - Pomelo Citrus medica - Citron Citrus reticulata - Mandarin & Tangerine Major hybrids Citrus ×sinensis - Sweet Orange Citrus ×aurantium - Bitter Orange Citrus ×paradisi - Grapefruit Citrus ×limon - Lemon Citrus ×limonia - Rangpur lime Citrus ×latifolia - Persian lime See also main text for other hybrids Citrus... A community apple orchard originally planted for productive use during the 1920s, in Westcliff on Sea (Essex, England) An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs maintained for food production. ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Kishon River is a river in Israel that flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the city of Haifa. ...

The Central Hills

East of the coastal plain lies the central highland region. In the north of this region lie the mountains and hills of Upper Galilee and Lower Galilee; farther to the south are the Samarian Hills with numerous small, fertile valleys; and south of Jerusalem are the mainly barren hills of Judea, including Mount Hebron. The central highlands average 610 meters (2,000 ft) in height and reach their highest elevation at Har Meron, at 1,208 meters (3,963 ft), in Galilee near Zefat (Safad). Several valleys cut across the highlands roughly from east to west; the largest is the Yizreel or Jezreel Valley (also known as the Plain of Esdraelon), which stretches forty-eight kilometers (30 mi) from Haifa southeast to the valley of the Jordan River, and is nineteen kilometers across at its widest point. The term highland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. ... Galilee (Arabic al-jaleel الجليل, Hebrew hagalil הגליל), meaning circuit, is a large area overlapping with much of the North District of Israel. ... “Shomron” redirects here. ... Map of the southern Levant, c. ... Mount Hebron is a census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States. ... Safed (Hebrew: צְפַת, Tiberian: , Israeli: Tsfat, Ashkenazi: Tzfas; Arabic: صفد ; KJV English: Zephath) is a city in the North District in Israel. ... Jezreel Valley and Mount Tabor, Israel Jezreel Valley The Jezreel Valley ; ‎, Emek Yizrael, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon (Esdraelon is the Koine Greek rendering of Jezreel[1]), and as the Zirin Valley (Arabic: , Sahel Zirin), and as the Meadow of Amrs son (مرج بن عامر, Marj Ibn Amer), is... The Jezreel Valley (Hebrew: עמק יזרעאל; Emek Yizrael, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon) is a large plain and inland valley in the north of Israel. ... Hebrew חֵיפָה Arabic حَيْفَا Founded in 3rd century CE Government City District Haifa Population 267,000 1,039,000 (metropolitan area) Jurisdiction 63,666 dunams (63. ... The Jordan River runs along the border between the West Bank and the Kingdom of Jordan Northern part of the Great Rift Valley as seen from space (NASA) The Jordan River Road sign In spring The Jordan River (Hebrew: נהר הירדן nehar hayarden, Arabic: نهر الأردن nahr al-urdun) is a river in Southwest...

Jordan Rift Valley

Main article: Jordan Rift Valley

East of the central highlands lies the Jordan Rift Valley, which is a small part of the 6,500-kilometer-long (4,040 mi) Syrian-East African Rift. In Israel the Rift Valley is dominated by the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee (an important freshwater source also known as Lake Tiberias and to Israelis as Lake Kinneret), and the Dead Sea. The Jordan, Israel's largest river (322 km/200 mi), originates in the Dan, Baniyas, and Hasbani rivers near Mount Hermon in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and flows south through the drained Hula Basin into the freshwater Lake Tiberias. Lake Tiberias is 165 square kilometers (63.7 mi²) in size and, depending on the season and rainfall, is at about 213 meters (700 ft) below sea level. With a water capacity estimated at 3 cubic kilometers (106 billion cubic feet), it serves as the principal reservoir of the National Water Carrier (also known as the Kinneret-Negev Conduit). The Jordan River continues its course from the southern end of Lake Tiberias (forming the boundary between the West Bank and Jordan) to its terminus in the highly saline Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 1,020 square kilometers (393 mi²) in size and, at 420 meters (1,339 ft) below sea level, is the lowest point in the world. South of the Dead Sea, the Rift Valley continues in the Nahal HaArava (Wadi al Arabah in Arabic), which has no permanent water flow, for 170 kilometers (106 mi) to the Gulf of Aqaba. Northern section of the Great Rift Valley. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret (Hebrew ים כנרת), is Israels largest freshwater lake. ... The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ... Look up Dan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Baniyas (Arabic: بانياس) is a city of northwestern Syria that is located 55 km to the south of Latakia, and 35 km north of Tartous. ... Hasbani is a Lebanese river that merges with the Baniar river to make the Jordan river. ... Mount Hermon (top of photo) supplies the bulk of the Jordan River water Mount Hermon (Arabic: Jabalu sh-Shaykh) is a mountain in the Anti-Lebanon range, on the border between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. ... Anti-Lebanon is a mountain range of Lebanon and Syria. ... // Hula Valley, seen from the Golan Heights. ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... In meteorology, precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. ... Completed in 1964, the National Water Carrier connects the Sea of Galilee with Israels water system. ... The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ... Cloudbreak over Wadi Araba, Jordan. ... Sinai Peninsula, with the Gulf of Aqaba (east) and the Gulf of Suez (west), as viewed from the Space Shuttle STS-40. ...

Negev Desert

Main article: Negev

The Negev Desert comprises approximately 12,000 square kilometers (4,600 sq. miles), more than half of Israel's total land area. Geographically it is an extension of the Sinai Desert, forming a rough triangle with its base in the north near Beersheba (aka Beersheva), the Dead Sea, and the southern Judean Hills, and it has its apex in the southern tip of the country at Eilat. Topographically, it parallels the other regions of the country, with lowlands in the west, hills in the central portion, and the Nahal HaArava as its eastern border. Rock face in the Negev Desert near Beersheba on the way to Eilat. ... Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 For other uses of the word Sinai, please see: Sinai (disambiguation). ... Hebrew   (Standard) Bəʼer ŠévaÊ» Arabic بِئْرْ اَلْسَبْعْ ( ) Name Meaning Well of the Oath(see also) Government City Also Spelled Beer Sheva (officially) District South Population 185,500 (Metro 531,000) (2005) Jurisdiction 54,000 dunams (54 km²) Mayor Yaacov Turner Beersheba (Hebrew romanization Beer Sheva), the largest city in the... The Judean Mountains are the mountain range on which Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel is located. ... Hebrew אילת Founded in 1951 Government City (from 1959) District South Population 55,000 (2006) Jurisdiction 80,000 dunams (80 km²) Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi North Beach, Eilat, from southwest. ...

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point is at the Dead Sea -408 m ( -1,339 ft). This is also the lowest point on land on the Earth.
• Highest point is at Har Hermon at 2236m, 6700ft aprx. which is in the Golan Highits

The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ... ‹ The template below (Unit of length) is being considered for deletion. ...

Climate

Topographic map of Israel and the south-eastern Mediterranean

Israel has a Mediterranean climate characterized by long, hot, rainless summers and relatively short, cool, rainy winters. The climate is determined by Israel's location between the subtropical aridity of the Sahara and the Arabian deserts, and the subtropical humidity of the Levant or eastern Mediterranean. The climate conditions are highly variable within the state and modified locally by altitude, latitude, and the proximity to the Mediterranean sea. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x2013, 755 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Israel ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x2013, 755 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Israel ... For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see Terrain. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is a climate that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin. ... The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitude 23. ...

January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from 6°C to 15°C (43°F to 59°F), and July and August are the hottest months at 22°C to 33°C (72°F to 91°F) on average across the state. Summers are very humid along the Mediterranean coast but dry in the central highlands, the Rift Valley, and the Negev Desert. In Eilat, the desert city, summer daytime-temperatures are often the highest in the state, at times reaching 44°C to 46°C (111°F to 115°F). More than 70 percent of the average rainfall in Israel falls between November and March; June through September are usually rainless. Rainfall is unevenly distributed, decreasing sharply as one moves southward. In the extreme south, rainfall averages near 30 millimeters (1.2 in) annually; in the north, average annual rainfall exceeds 900 millimeters (35.5 in). Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year, particularly in the Negev Desert. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and flooding. In winter, it may take the form of snow at the higher elevations of the central highlands, including Jerusalem. Mount Hermon has seasonal snow which covers all three of its peaks for most of the year in winter and spring. The areas of the country most cultivated are those that receive more than 300 millimeters (12 in) of rainfall annually; about one-third of the country is cultivable. Rock face in the Negev Desert near Beersheba on the way to Eilat. ... Severe soil erosion in a wheat field near Washington State University, USA. For erosion as an operation of Mathematical morphology, see Erosion (morphology) Erosion is displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of ocean currents, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement... Flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ... Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. ...

Thunderstorms and hail are common throughout the rainy season and waterspouts occasionally hit the Mediterranean coast, capable of causing only minor damage. However, supercell thunderstorms and a true F2 tornado hit the Western Galilee April 4 2006, causing significant damage and 75 injuries.

Environmental concerns

• Natural hazards:
  • Sandstorms may occur during spring
  • Droughts
  • Flash Floods
  • Regular earthquakes
• Current Environmenal Issues
  • Limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints
  • Desertification
  • Air Pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions
  • Groundwater Pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
• International Environmental Agreements:
  • Party to:
    • Convention on Biological Diversity
    • UNFCCC - Climate Change
    • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
    • Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
    • Hazardous Wastes
    • Nuclear Test Ban
    • Montreal Protocol - Ozone Layer Protection
    • MARPOL 73/78 - Ship Pollution
    • Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat
  • Signed, but not ratified:
    • Kyoto Protocol
    • Marine Life Conservation

A sandstorm approaching Singapore, Florida, just before nightfall on April 27 2005. ... Fields outside Benambra, Victoria suffering from drought conditions A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. ... Lower Antelope Canyon was carved out of sandstone by flash floods A Flash Flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas (washes), rivers and streams, caused by the intense rainfall associated with a thunderstorm, or multiple training thunderstorms. ... Global earthquake epicenters, 1963–1998. ... Ship stranded by the retreat of the Aral Sea Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. ... Air pollution is a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. ... Raw sewage and industrial waste flows into the U.S. from Mexico as the New River passes from Mexicali, Baja California to Calexico, California Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities. ... Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. ... A cropduster spreading pesticide. ... The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty that was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. ... The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. ... The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes and was opened for signature in New York on 24 September 1996, when it was signed by 71 States, including the five nuclear weapon states at the time (which did not... The largest Antarctic ozone hole recorded as of September 2000 For other similarly-named agreements, see Montreal Protocol (disambiguation). ... Ship Pollution is an abbreviated form of the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973. ... The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... opened for signature - 29 April 1958 entered into force - 20 March 1966 objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited...

Human geography

In 2006 the total population of the Israeli inhabited places is estimated at 7.1 million. Depending on the definitions applied, there were three to five metropolises, which included some of Israel's 71 cities and hundreds of towns.

Among Israel's villages, the kibbutzim and moshavim are unique types of settlement to Israel. There are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Golan Heights, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: ; plural: kibbutzim: קיבוצים; gathering or together) is an Israeli collective intentional community. ... Moshav (Hebrew: מושב Translit. ... The Golan Heights (‎ Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: Habat al-ūlān) or Golan is a mountainous area in northeastern Israel[1] on the border of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

   

Panorama of Kibbutz Barkai in the Wadi Ara region

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 84 pixelsFull resolution (9660 × 1020 pixel, file size: 6. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 84 pixelsFull resolution (9660 × 1020 pixel, file size: 6. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Panoramic view from north; May 20, 2006, 4:10 PM Barkai (; Hebrew: ‎) is an Israeli kibbutz in the Menashe Regional Council on the western side of Wadi Ara. ... Wadi Ara or Nahal Iron (Arabic: , Hebrew: ), refers to an area within Israel that is mostly populated by Israeli Arabs. ...

Demographics

Further information: Demographics of Israel

Israel is an incredibly diverse society made up predominantly of Jews and Arab ethnic groups. This article discusses the demographics of Israel. ... Languages Arabic and other minority languages Religions Islam, Christianity, Druzism and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is a member of a complexly defined ethnic group who identifies as such on the basis of one or more of either genealogical, political, or linguistic grounds. ...

Urban geography

Israeli metropolises are Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beer Sheva and possibly also Jerusalem [1] and Nazareth [2]. Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... Hebrew חֵיפָה Arabic حَيْفَا Founded in 3rd century CE Government City District Haifa Population 267,000 1,039,000 (metropolitan area) Jurisdiction 63,666 dunams (63. ... Beersheba or Beer Sheva (Hebrew באר שבע; Arabic بئر السبع Biʾr as-Sabʿ) is a city in Israel. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Hebrew נָצְרַת (Natzrat) (Standard) Náẓərat Arabic الناصرة (an-Nāṣira) Name Meaning Ancient word in Hebrew Government City District North Population 64,800[1] (2006) Jurisdiction 14 200 dunams (14. ...

In 2005 there were 71 Israeli cities, including 3 Israeli cities in the West Bank (see list of cities in Israel). The status of city is awarded by the Israeli minister of internal affairs to settlements that apply for this status and usually pass a threshold of 20,000, although the minister can, and in some cases does, give out the status beforehand. Look up city, City in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Cities in Israel, by district: // Northern District See also North District, Israel. ...

Israeli towns of 5,000 residents and more are incorporated as local councils. Most towns between 2,000 and 5,000 residents are local committees within regional councils, although exceptions exist. In Israel, a local council is a locality similar to a city in structure and way of life, that has not yet achieved a status of a city, which requires a minimum number of residents, among other things. ... The Israeli Ministry of Interior recognizes three types of local government in Israel: cities, regional councils, and local councils. ...

   

Panorama showing north Tel Aviv (right) and Ramat Gan (left) taken from Tel Aviv University

See also: List of regional councils in Israel

Closeup of Israel showing cities and towns

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (7901x493, 825 KB) Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan Panorama at sunset, from north Beivushtang 13:23, 29 November 2006 (UTC) http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (7901x493, 825 KB) Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan Panorama at sunset, from north Beivushtang 13:23, 29 November 2006 (UTC) http://www. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Note: Some of the external links are in Hebrew. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 228 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (496 × 1301 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) A map showing Israels cities and main towns, along with nearby areas. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 228 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (496 × 1301 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) A map showing Israels cities and main towns, along with nearby areas. ...

Rural geography

Israel's rural space includes several unique kinds of settlements, notably the moshav and the kibbutz. Originally these were collective and cooperative settlements respectively. Over time, the degree of cooperation in these settlements has decreased and in several of them the cooperative structure has been dismantled altogether. All rural settlements and many small towns (some of which are dubbed "rurban settlements") are incorporated in regional councils. Moshav (Hebrew: מושב Translit. ... Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: ; plural: kibbutzim: קיבוצים; gathering or together) is an Israeli collective intentional community. ...

Political geography

Further information: Politics of Israel

• Area:
  • Total: 20,770 km² (8,019 mi²)
  • Land: 28,023 km² (10,820 mi²)
  • Water: 440 km² (170 mi²)
• Land boundaries:
  • Total: 28,023 km² (10,820 mi²)
  • Border countries:
    • Egypt 266 km (165 mi)
    • Jordan 238 km (148 mi)
    • Lebanon 79 km (49 mi)
    • Syria 76 km (47 mi)
  • 273 km (170 mi)
• Maritime claims:
  • Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm (22.2 km)
• Northernmost point - the tripoint with Syria and Lebanon, Golan Heights ¹
• Easternmost point - an unnamed location on the border with Syria ²
• Southernmost point - the point at which the Israel-Egypt border enters the Gulf of Aqaba, east of Taba, Egypt
• Westernmost point - the Egypt-Israel-Gaza tripoint, is Israel's westernmost point.

Beaches along the shores of Israel

Politics of Israel takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Israel is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 10,000 km² and 100,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare orders of magnitude; this page lists lengths between 100 and 1,000 km (105 and 106 m). ... ‹ The template below (Unit of length) is being considered for deletion. ... A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of length. ... A tripoint is a point at which three areas join. ... The Golan Heights (‎ Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: Habat al-Å«lān) or Golan is a mountainous area in northeastern Israel[1] on the border of Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. ... The Taba Border Crossing (Arabic: , Hebrew: ) is an international border that connects Taba, Egypt and Eilat, Israel. ... Sinai Peninsula, with the Gulf of Aqaba (east) and the Gulf of Suez (west), as viewed from the Space Shuttle STS-40. ... Taba (Arabic: طابا Hebrew: טאבה ) is a small Egyptian village near the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. ... A tripoint is a point at which three areas join. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1324 KB) Tel Aviv - View of the beach from Frishman File links The following pages link to this file: Tel Aviv Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1324 KB) Tel Aviv - View of the beach from Frishman File links The following pages link to this file: Tel Aviv Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize...

Economic geography

Further information: Economy of Israel

Natural resources

Copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil

Land use

• Arable land: 17.02%
• Permanent crops: 4.17%
• Other: 78.81% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land

1,990 km² or 768 mi² (1998 est.)

Israel has a diversified economy with substantial government ownership and a rapidly developing high-tech sector. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... In chemistry, a phosphate is a polyatomic ion or radical consisting of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen. ... A bromide is a phrase, or person who uses phrases, which have been used and repeated so many times as to become either insincere in their meaning, or seem like an attempt at trying to explain the obvious. ... Potash Potash (or carbonate of potash) is an impure form of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) mixed with other potassium salts. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ... For other uses, see Sand (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... Asphalt is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits. ... General Name, symbol, number manganese, Mn, 25 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 7, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 54. ... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ...

Sources

• http://mama.indstate.edu/users/gejdg/rural.pdf

¹ If the Golan Heights region is not considered part of Israel, then an unnamed location on the Lebanese border (the Blue Line), immediately to the north of Metulla, is Israel's northernmost point. Metula (Hebrew: ) is a small town (local council) in the North District of Israel. ...

² If the Golan Heights region is not considered part of Israel, then an unnamed location on the border with Syria west of Qela is Israel's easternmost point

Other geographic features

• Dead Sea
• Galilee
• Mount Arbel
• Jordan River
• Lake Hula
• Masada
• Mount Carmel
• Negev
• Sea of Galilee
• Sharon
• Yatir Forest
• Districts of Israel
• List of cities in Israel

The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ... Galilee (Arabic al-jaleel الجليل, Hebrew hagalil הגליל), meaning circuit, is a large area overlapping with much of the North District of Israel. ... Mount Arbel (Hebrew: הר ארבל, Transliteration: Har Arbel) is a mountain in Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, that has split into two after an earthquake. ... The Jordan River runs along the border between the West Bank and the Kingdom of Jordan Northern part of the Great Rift Valley as seen from space (NASA) The Jordan River Road sign In spring The Jordan River (Hebrew: נהר הירדן nehar hayarden, Arabic: نهر الأردن nahr al-urdun) is a river in Southwest... The Hula Valley (Hebrew: emek hahula) is an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water. ... Combatants Jewish Sicarii Roman Empire Commanders Elazar ben Yair Lucius Flavius Silva Strength 960 15,000 Casualties 953 Unknown Masada (a romanisation of the Hebrew מצדה, Metzada, from מצודה, metzuda, fortress) is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel on top of... Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain in Israel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. ... Rock face in the Negev Desert near Beersheba on the way to Eilat. ... The Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret (Hebrew ים כנרת), is Israels largest freshwater lake. ... Sharon (Hebrew שרון Sārôn) is a region of the central coast of Israel. ... Yatir Forest - on the edge of the desert Location of the Yatir Forest The Weizmann Institutes research tower Yatir Forest is a forest in Israel, located on the southern slopes of Mount Hebron, in the Yatir region. ... Map of the districts of Israel Population density by geographic region, sub-district and district (thicker border indicates higher tier). ... Cities in Israel, by district: // Northern District See also North District, Israel. ...

References

• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.