Israel Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Geography== {{Main|Geography of Israel}} {{see also|Agriculture in Israel|Wildlife of Israel|List of forests in Israel|Yatir Forest}} {{Israel Geographical Map}} {{multiple image|caption_align=center|total_width=220|image1=Satellite image of Israel in January 2003.jpg|width1=727|height1=1731|image2=Israel at night.jpg|width2=425|height2=934|footer=[[Satellite imagery|Satellite images]] of Israel and neighboring territories during the day and night}} Israel is located in the [[Levant]] area of the [[Fertile Crescent]]. The country is at the [[Eastern Mediterranean|eastern end]] of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], bounded by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank to the east, and Egypt and the Gaza Strip to the southwest. It lies between latitudes [[29th parallel north|29°]] and [[34th parallel north|34° N]], and longitudes [[34th meridian east|34°]] and [[36th meridian east|36° E]]. The sovereign territory of Israel (according to the demarcation lines of the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] and excluding all territories captured by Israel during the 1967 [[Six-Day War]]) is approximately {{convert|20770|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}}, of which two percent is water.<ref name="cia">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel/ |title=Israel |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=5 January 2017 |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110072816/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel |url-status=live }}</ref> However Israel is so narrow (100 km at its widest, compared to 400 km from north to south) that the [[exclusive economic zone]] in the Mediterranean is double the land area of the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-navy-to-devote-majority-of-missile-boats-to-secure-offshore-drilling-rafts-1.406203 |title=Israel Navy to devote majority of missile boats to secure offshore drilling rafts |first=Gili |last=Cohen |date=9 January 2012 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522081921/https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-navy-to-devote-majority-of-missile-boats-to-secure-offshore-drilling-rafts-1.406203 |url-status=live }}</ref> The total area under Israeli law, including [[East Jerusalem]] and the [[Golan Heights]], is {{convert|22072|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st01_01&CYear=2012 |title=Area of Districts, Sub-Districts, Natural Regions and Lakes |date=11 September 2012 |publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=13 June 2013 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004120711/http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st01_01&CYear=2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the total area under Israeli control, including the military-controlled and partially [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian-governed]] territory of the [[West Bank]], is {{convert|27799|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}}.<ref name="loc-geo">{{cite journal |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/iltoc.html |date=7 May 2009 |title=Israel (Geography) |journal=Country Studies |access-date=12 February 2010 |archive-date=10 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710212220/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/iltoc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite its small size, Israel is home to a variety of geographic features, from the [[Negev]] desert in the south to the inland fertile [[Jezreel Valley]], mountain ranges of the [[Galilee]], [[Mount Carmel|Carmel]] and toward the [[Golan Heights|Golan]] in the north. The [[Israeli coastal plain]] on the shores of the Mediterranean is home to most of the nation's population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Geographic%20Regions/pages/The%20coastal%20plain.aspx |title=The Coastal Plain |publisher=Israel Ministry of Tourism |access-date=6 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107171405/http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Geographic%20Regions/pages/The%20coastal%20plain.aspx |archive-date=7 January 2017 }}</ref> East of the central highlands lies the [[Jordan Rift Valley]], a small part of the {{convert|6500|km|mi|0|adj=on|sp=us}} [[Great Rift Valley]]. The [[Jordan River]] runs along the Jordan Rift Valley, from [[Mount Hermon]] through the [[Hulah Valley]] and the [[Sea of Galilee]] to the [[Dead Sea]], the [[Extreme points of Earth|lowest point]] on the surface of the Earth.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/livingwatersmyth0000krei |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=20 July 2007 |year=1999 |title=The Living Dead Sea |isbn=978-0-8264-0406-0 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Further south is the [[Arabah]], ending with the [[Gulf of Aqaba|Gulf of Eilat]], part of the [[Red Sea]]. [[Makhtesh]], or "erosion cirques" are unique to the [[Negev]] and the [[Sinai Peninsula]], the largest being the [[Makhtesh Ramon]] at 38 km in length.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1486/ |publisher=UNESCO |title=Makhteshim Country |access-date=19 September 2007 |isbn=978-954-642-135-7 |year=2001 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510053055/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1486/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Israel has the largest number of plant species per square meter of the countries in the [[Mediterranean Basin]].<ref name=rinat>{{cite news |last=Rinat |first=Zafrir |title=More endangered than rain forests? |newspaper=Haaretz |date=29 May 2008 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/more-endangered-than-rain-forests-1.246839 |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010225743/https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/more-endangered-than-rain-forests-1.246839 |url-status=live }}</ref> Israel contains four terrestrial ecoregions: [[Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests]], [[Southern Anatolian montane conifer and deciduous forests]], [[Arabian Desert]], and [[Mesopotamian shrub desert]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The forests accounted for 8.5% of the country's area in 2016, up from 2% in 1948, as the result of a large-scale forest planting program by the [[Jewish National Fund]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tal |first1=Alon |title=All the Trees of the Forest |date=2013 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=9780300189506 |pages=5, 66}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Forestry and Green Innovations |url=https://www.jnf.org/our-work/forestry-green-innovations |access-date=2023-11-13 |publisher=Jewish National Fund |language=en |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016185242/https://www.jnf.org/our-work/forestry-green-innovations |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Tectonics and seismicity=== {{Further|List of earthquakes in the Levant}} The [[Jordan Rift Valley]] is the result of tectonic movements within the [[Dead Sea Transform]] (DSF) fault system. The DSF forms the [[transform fault|transform boundary]] between the [[African Plate]] to the west and the [[Arabian Plate]] to the east. The Golan Heights and all of [[Jordan]] are part of the Arabian Plate, while the Galilee, West Bank, Coastal Plain, and Negev along with the Sinai Peninsula are on the African Plate. This tectonic disposition leads to a relatively high [[List of earthquakes in the Levant|seismic activity]]. The entire Jordan Valley segment is thought to have ruptured repeatedly, for instance during the last two major [[Geography of Israel#Seismic activity|earthquakes]] along this structure in [[749 Galilee earthquake|749]] and [[1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake|1033]]. The deficit in [[Fault (geology)#Slip, heave, throw|slip]] that has built up since the 1033 event is sufficient to cause an earthquake of {{M|w}}~7.4.<ref name="Ferry">{{cite journal |title= A 48-kyr-long slip rate history for the Jordan Valley segment of the Dead Sea Fault |author1=Ferry M. |author2=Meghraoui M. |author3=Karaki A.A. |author4=Al-Taj M. |author5=Amoush H. |author6=Al-Dhaisat S. |author7=Barjous M. |journal= Earth and Planetary Science Letters |year=2008 |volume=260 |issue=3–4 |pages=394–406 |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.049 |bibcode=2007E&PSL.260..394F }}</ref> The most catastrophic known earthquakes occurred in 31 BCE, [[Galilee earthquake of 363|363]], 749, and 1033 CE, that is every {{Abbr|ca.|circa}} 400 years on average.<ref name="MarcoAFTAU">American Friends of the Tel Aviv University, ''Earthquake Experts at Tel Aviv University Turn to History for Guidance'' (4 October 2007). Quote: The major ones were recorded along the Jordan Valley in the years 31 B.C.E., 363 C.E., 749 C.E., and 1033 C.E. "So roughly, we are talking about an interval of every 400 years. If we follow the patterns of nature, a major quake should be expected any time because almost a whole millennium has passed since the last strong earthquake of 1033." (Tel Aviv University Associate Professor Dr. Shmuel (Shmulik) Marco). [http://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811164733/https://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3|date=11 August 2020}}</ref> Destructive earthquakes leading to serious loss of life strike about every 80 years.<ref name="IllPreped">Zafrir Renat, ''Israel Is Due, and Ill Prepared, for Major Earthquake'', Haaretz, 15 January 2010. "On average, a destructive earthquake takes place in Israel once every 80 years, causing serious casualties and damage." [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-is-due-and-ill-prepared-for-a-major-earthquake-1.261497] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315233829/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-is-due-and-ill-prepared-for-a-major-earthquake-1.261497|date=15 March 2016}}</ref> While stringent construction regulations are in place and recently built structures are earthquake-safe, {{As of|2007|lc=y}} many public buildings as well as 50,000 residential buildings did not meet the new standards and were "expected to collapse" if exposed to a strong earthquake.<ref name="IllPreped"/> ===Climate=== {{Further|Climate change in Israel}} [[File:Soil moisture and climate change.svg|thumb|upright=1.25|The projections of the [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report]] show clearly the impacts of climate change on Israel even at 2 degrees of warming.]] Temperatures in Israel vary widely, especially during the winter. Coastal areas, such as those of [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Haifa]], have a typical [[Mediterranean climate]] with cool, rainy winters and long, hot summers. The area of [[Beersheba]] and the Northern Negev have a [[semi-arid climate]] with hot summers, cool winters, and fewer rainy days. The Southern Negev and the Arava areas have a [[desert climate]] with very hot, dry summers, and mild winters with few days of rain. The highest temperature in the world outside Africa and North America {{As of|2021|lc=y}}, 54 °C (129 °F), was recorded in 1942 in the [[Tirat Zvi]] kibbutz in the northern Jordan River valley.<ref name="watzman">{{cite news |last=Watzman |first=Haim |title=Left for dead |access-date=20 March 2012 |date=8 February 1997 |newspaper=New Scientist |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15320684.400-left-for-dead.html |archive-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114031306/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15320684.400-left-for-dead.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=WMO Region 6: Highest Temperature |url=https://wmo.asu.edu/content/wmo-region-vi-europe-highest-temperature|website=World Meteorological Organization's World Weather & Climate Extremes Archive|publisher=Arizona State University|url-status=live|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913230418/https://wmo.asu.edu/content/wmo-region-vi-europe-highest-temperature |archive-date=13 September 2021}}</ref> Mountainous regions can be windy and cold, and areas at elevation of {{Convert|750|m|}} or more (same elevation as Jerusalem) will usually receive at least one [[Snow in Israel|snowfall]] each year.{{sfn|Goldreich|2003|p=85}} From May to September, rain in Israel is rare.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/ISXX0026 |publisher=[[The Weather Channel]] |access-date=11 July 2007 |title=Average Weather for Tel Aviv-Yafo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120111750/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/ISXX0026 |archive-date=20 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/weddings/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/ISXX0010 |publisher=[[The Weather Channel]] |access-date=11 July 2007 |title=Average Weather for Jerusalem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120111740/http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/weddings/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/ISXX0010 |archive-date=20 January 2013 }}</ref> There are four different [[phytogeographic]] regions in Israel, due to the country's location between the temperate and tropical zones. For this reason, the flora and fauna are extremely diverse. There are 2,867 known [[List of endemic flora of Israel|species of plants in Israel]]. Of these, at least 253 species are [[List of adventive wild plants in Israel|introduced]] and non-native.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flora.huji.ac.il/browse.asp?action=browse&name=1070 |title=Flora of Israel Online |publisher=Flora.huji.ac.il |access-date=29 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430091717/http://flora.huji.ac.il/browse.asp?action=browse&name=1070 |archive-date=30 April 2014 }}</ref> There are 380 [[National parks and nature reserves of Israel|Israeli nature reserves]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Articles/Attractions/Pages/National%20Parks%20and%20Nature%20Reserves.aspx |title=National Parks and Nature Reserves, Israel |publisher=Israel Ministry of Tourism |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019042219/http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Articles/Attractions/Pages/National%20Parks%20and%20Nature%20Reserves.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2012 }}</ref> With scarce water resources, Israel has developed various water-saving technologies, including [[drip irrigation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/land/focus%20on%20israel-%20development%20of%20limited%20water%20reso |publisher=Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=7 November 2007 |title=Development of Limited Water Resources – Historical and Technological Aspects |date=20 September 2003 |last=Sitton |first=Dov |archive-date=11 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011032150/http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/land/focus%20on%20israel-%20development%20of%20limited%20water%20reso |url-status=live }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2023}} The considerable sunlight available for [[solar energy]] makes [[Solar power in Israel|Israel the leading nation in solar energy]] use per capita—practically every house uses solar panels for water heating.<ref name="Solar energy"/> The Israeli [[Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)|Ministry of Environmental Protection]] has reported that [[Climate change in Israel|climate change]] "will have a decisive impact on all areas of life", particularly for vulnerable populations.<ref name="MEP 2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.il/en/departments/guides/climate_trends_and_impact_in_israel |title=Climate Change Trends and Impact in Israel |newspaper=Gov.il |publisher=[[Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)|Ministry of Environmental Protection]] |date=2 November 2020 |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806015845/https://www.gov.il/en/departments/guides/climate_trends_and_impact_in_israel |url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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