Page 8 - Discover Israel Magazine - 2015 Edition
P. 8
broods, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority Near the beach, a ine stone building that
now houses the Dor Museum was once a
(INPA) runs the Sea Turtle Rescue Center
glass factory. When Baron de Rothschild
at Michmoret, a marine studies center
built the factory in 1891, he hoped it would
north of Netanya. Most Mediterranean
countries, including Israel, are partners in an utilize the local sand to produce the bottles
international program for the protection of for his winery at nearby Zichron Ya’akov.
this species of which the center’s activities Whether because the sand was unsuitable or
are part. the pioneer workers inexperienced (or both),
the manufacturing did not go well and the
Plant life has to be very hardy to survive out factory, run by a young Meir Dizengof – who
here, challenged as it is by the constant salt would later become the irst mayor of the
spray. One delicate denizen unique to Achziv irst Hebrew city, Tel Aviv – closed its doors,
is Greek sea lavender, with its distinct purple and the wine bottles were subsequently
blossoms. The coast morning glory with its imported from France.
large, bright yellow lowers grows in sandier
areas, and white lowers of the sea dafodil Caesarea
bloom in August and perfume the air toward “I pray that these things never end: the
– south to the high rises of Tel Aviv, north
dusk. The sea dafodil is one example of sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, to Mount Carmel and the outskirts of Haifa
nature’s intricate bag of survival tricks –a thin the crash of the heavens, human prayer.” with the popular Sharon Beach just below–
waxy layer that covers it protects it from the These moving words were written in Hebrew is incomparable.
burn of the constant salt spray. by Hannah Senesh who in 1938 moved
from Hungary to Kibbutz Sdot Yam next to
Ashkelon
Dor-Habonim Caesarea. In 1943, at the age of 23, she
For those who like to hear the waves when volunteered to parachute into Nazi-occupied One of the special attractions of Ashkelon
for the ancients was the sweet groundwater
they awaken in the morning, a number of Yugoslavia to try to rescue Jews, but was located very close to the surface. Much of
caught and executed by the Nazis in 1944.
bungalows owned by Kibbutz Nahsholim the original vegetation was destroyed over
dot the area near the Dor-Habonim beach – The name of this paean of praise for the
the millennia, but in the old days, according
a great place for family fun. INPA trails lead natural beauty of her adopted seaside home to the inds at Tel Ashkelon, the menu was
from the beach to the lowering hills to its is “Walk to Caesarea.” varied and included wine grapes, olives,
east, or to Tel Dor, where the remains of a carobs, pomegranates, almonds, igs,
Phoenician city conquered by King David The beach at Caesarea is still lovely, but
wheat, and barley, all grown nearby. The
have been discovered. there is plenty of competition for sun and antiquities here are located mainly in the
surf (one section in the Crusader City is a Ashkelon National Park, a favorite picnic
The same kind of animal and plant life that private club with a daily admission charge). area. They are not a “distraction” from beach
Among the other sites to see during a day or
clings to the “tables” further north can also two in the area is the Hannah Senesh House time as at Caesarea, but only because
be seen here, along with their own unique at Kibbutz Sdot Yam. The Roman ruins here most visitors are unaware that the oldest
specialties. For example, in one cove, beach- are outstanding, and within the walls of the known arched gateway in the world, dating
walkers can see the shells of numerous back to the Bronze Age (2000-1550 BCE)
Crusader city are restaurants and beautiful
when Ashkelon was a Canaanite city, was
mollusks that lived here thousands of years crafts shops. At the scuba diving center
ago and have been preserved in the clay discovered at the dig site near the shore.
here, licensed divers can suit up to see the
that covers the seabed. The hills east of the underwater ruins of the famed port of Herod Beach lovers don’t have to shortchange their
beach are a good place to get a view of the the Great. historical experience – all they have to do is
two calcareous ridges that run parallel to the raise their eyes to see the remains of the
Crusader wall along the beach, into which
coast. Some areas between them lood in Herzliya Roman columns were inserted to strengthen
the winter, producing rain pools that are also The Herzliya beach is a long-time favorite it. A short walk from the water’s edge reveals
home to species rare not only in Israel, but for local and foreign visitors and is easily
white broom, Christ’s thorn jujube, tamarisk
globally too. accessible from its hotel strip. On a clif and boxthorn, all of which thrive in spite of
above the beach is the Crusader fortress
the wind and salt and are home to a variety
Among the special lowers that greet visitors of Apollonia, where high above a small
of small animals.
here is the Jafa groundsel, whose yellow natural anchorage, people irst settled
blooms appear in late winter and spring. Its some 2,500 years ago after discovering
These and other beaches demonstrate that
meaty leaves can store precious rainwater the special advantages of the rock with its in Israel, a day at the beach can easily turn
that otherwise quickly percolates through covering of sand and red loam, which they into several days at several beaches, each
the porous rock and disappears. could cultivate. The view from the fortress with its own special gifts to ofer.
Children playing on the beach.
Photo: Tel Aviv Tourism Association
DISCOVER ISRAEL
8
now houses the Dor Museum was once a
(INPA) runs the Sea Turtle Rescue Center
glass factory. When Baron de Rothschild
at Michmoret, a marine studies center
built the factory in 1891, he hoped it would
north of Netanya. Most Mediterranean
countries, including Israel, are partners in an utilize the local sand to produce the bottles
international program for the protection of for his winery at nearby Zichron Ya’akov.
this species of which the center’s activities Whether because the sand was unsuitable or
are part. the pioneer workers inexperienced (or both),
the manufacturing did not go well and the
Plant life has to be very hardy to survive out factory, run by a young Meir Dizengof – who
here, challenged as it is by the constant salt would later become the irst mayor of the
spray. One delicate denizen unique to Achziv irst Hebrew city, Tel Aviv – closed its doors,
is Greek sea lavender, with its distinct purple and the wine bottles were subsequently
blossoms. The coast morning glory with its imported from France.
large, bright yellow lowers grows in sandier
areas, and white lowers of the sea dafodil Caesarea
bloom in August and perfume the air toward “I pray that these things never end: the
– south to the high rises of Tel Aviv, north
dusk. The sea dafodil is one example of sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, to Mount Carmel and the outskirts of Haifa
nature’s intricate bag of survival tricks –a thin the crash of the heavens, human prayer.” with the popular Sharon Beach just below–
waxy layer that covers it protects it from the These moving words were written in Hebrew is incomparable.
burn of the constant salt spray. by Hannah Senesh who in 1938 moved
from Hungary to Kibbutz Sdot Yam next to
Ashkelon
Dor-Habonim Caesarea. In 1943, at the age of 23, she
For those who like to hear the waves when volunteered to parachute into Nazi-occupied One of the special attractions of Ashkelon
for the ancients was the sweet groundwater
they awaken in the morning, a number of Yugoslavia to try to rescue Jews, but was located very close to the surface. Much of
caught and executed by the Nazis in 1944.
bungalows owned by Kibbutz Nahsholim the original vegetation was destroyed over
dot the area near the Dor-Habonim beach – The name of this paean of praise for the
the millennia, but in the old days, according
a great place for family fun. INPA trails lead natural beauty of her adopted seaside home to the inds at Tel Ashkelon, the menu was
from the beach to the lowering hills to its is “Walk to Caesarea.” varied and included wine grapes, olives,
east, or to Tel Dor, where the remains of a carobs, pomegranates, almonds, igs,
Phoenician city conquered by King David The beach at Caesarea is still lovely, but
wheat, and barley, all grown nearby. The
have been discovered. there is plenty of competition for sun and antiquities here are located mainly in the
surf (one section in the Crusader City is a Ashkelon National Park, a favorite picnic
The same kind of animal and plant life that private club with a daily admission charge). area. They are not a “distraction” from beach
Among the other sites to see during a day or
clings to the “tables” further north can also two in the area is the Hannah Senesh House time as at Caesarea, but only because
be seen here, along with their own unique at Kibbutz Sdot Yam. The Roman ruins here most visitors are unaware that the oldest
specialties. For example, in one cove, beach- are outstanding, and within the walls of the known arched gateway in the world, dating
walkers can see the shells of numerous back to the Bronze Age (2000-1550 BCE)
Crusader city are restaurants and beautiful
when Ashkelon was a Canaanite city, was
mollusks that lived here thousands of years crafts shops. At the scuba diving center
ago and have been preserved in the clay discovered at the dig site near the shore.
here, licensed divers can suit up to see the
that covers the seabed. The hills east of the underwater ruins of the famed port of Herod Beach lovers don’t have to shortchange their
beach are a good place to get a view of the the Great. historical experience – all they have to do is
two calcareous ridges that run parallel to the raise their eyes to see the remains of the
Crusader wall along the beach, into which
coast. Some areas between them lood in Herzliya Roman columns were inserted to strengthen
the winter, producing rain pools that are also The Herzliya beach is a long-time favorite it. A short walk from the water’s edge reveals
home to species rare not only in Israel, but for local and foreign visitors and is easily
white broom, Christ’s thorn jujube, tamarisk
globally too. accessible from its hotel strip. On a clif and boxthorn, all of which thrive in spite of
above the beach is the Crusader fortress
the wind and salt and are home to a variety
Among the special lowers that greet visitors of Apollonia, where high above a small
of small animals.
here is the Jafa groundsel, whose yellow natural anchorage, people irst settled
blooms appear in late winter and spring. Its some 2,500 years ago after discovering
These and other beaches demonstrate that
meaty leaves can store precious rainwater the special advantages of the rock with its in Israel, a day at the beach can easily turn
that otherwise quickly percolates through covering of sand and red loam, which they into several days at several beaches, each
the porous rock and disappears. could cultivate. The view from the fortress with its own special gifts to ofer.
Children playing on the beach.
Photo: Tel Aviv Tourism Association
DISCOVER ISRAEL
8
