Mt Hermon General
Overview
The highest point in Israel is an inviting
place to hike all year round. Skiers, of course, will head straight for
Mount Hermon in winter, but those who prefer to walk can also have a
ball there. When summer has already set in over the rest of the country,
Mount Hermon is still bursting with the vitality of an extended
springtime. In the dog days of July and August, take a
break from the beach and the steaming city and cool off on the Golan.
Don't forget to bring warm clothing with you - the nights are nippy. On
a clear day, which is the norm in summer, you'll have a superb view of
the mountains of: Galilee, the Golan, and southern Lebanon. And even in
the middle of summer, there are still snowy areas in the upper part of
Mount Hermon (the chair lift operates all year round). Summer visitors can enter the site free of
charge and take part in free tours led by guides from the Nature
Reserves Authority. You can also take a jeep tour, with the expert
assistance of Safari Hahermon. The
slopes of Mount Hermon offer other attractions as well. Part of the area
is classified as a military zone, which means you'll have to make
advance arrangements if you want to visit there. The hosts at your
lodgings can tell you how. A particularly noteworthy Hermon site is
Har Habtarim, 1,296 meters above sea level on the slopes of Katef Sion.
According to tradition, this is where God promised Abraham that He would
give the land to his descendants. An ancient tomb marks the spot, and
huge oaks grow next to it. Next to the summit of Har Kahal (1411
meters above sea level), lead quarries have been discovered; the source
of raw materials for the kohl used in ancient eye makeup. Further down
is the proud Ka'alat Namrud, one of the best preserved maseluke
fortresses from the Crusader period in Israel. The citadel overlooks the
Banias Spring, where you can have a refreshing hike even on the hottest
summer days. At the Druse hospitality center in the
village of Ein Kinya, you can learn about Druse life on the Golan and
get a taste of it as well, with Druse pita, labaneh, and coffee. Next to the tomb of Nebi Hazuri, the
Jewish National Fund developed a lovely wayside picnic spot. In Neve
Ativ, art lovers will enjoy visiting the gallery and workshop of a local
artist who works in glass. Hungry? Habokrim Restaurant (Merom Golan) and
the Druse eateries will satisfy any appetite. In summer, don't miss the
berry picking at Moshav Sha'al. Pictures of Mt. Hermon
More pictures winter 2005
Mount Hermon - Facts: Mount Hermon is the most northern point of
Israel. Mount Hermon is the highest point in
Israel, it's highest peak gets up to about 2224 meters above sea level. Mount Hermon is home to the only skiing
site in Israel. Mount Hermon is important because of it's
strategic advantage, on a clear day Israel can see deep in to the Syrian
territory. In the year 1973 as part of the "Yom
Kippur" war Israel took over Mount Hermon from the hands of the
Syrians. In winter, Mount Hermon is covered with
snow! And packed with thousands of Israelis coming to see and ski the
only snow they have in Israel. People say Mount Hermon is the only
"real" Mountain in Israel, and that all the other Mountains
are just high hills. The
highest point on Mount Hermon is home to sophisticated and latest
technology Radar and Tracking systems of the I.D.F (Israel Defense
Forces - the Israeli army) who are part of our strategic advantage over
Syria. Mount Hermon is a separate part of the
Golan Heights (Geographically). The Skiing Site is run by the only Jewish
settlement on the Mountain - Neve Ativ. Mount Hermon's name in Arabic -
"Jabel El Sheich" The Vertical drop in the Mount Hermon
Skiing site is 620 meters. Settlements on Mount Hermon: Neve Ativ - Jewish settlement Majdel Shams - Druse Town Ein Kynia - Druse village Other Peaks on Mount Hermon: Mt. Kachal - 1411 meters above sea
level. Mt. Shazif - 1541 meters above
sea level. Mt. Alon - 1381 meters above
sea level. Mt. Sna'aim - 1146 meters
above sea level. Mt. Habterim - 1296 meters
above sea level. Mt. Agas - 1352 meters above
sea level. Mt. Dov - 1529 meters above
sea level. Mt. Habusheet - Unknown
Altitude. Mt. Shaked - 2012 meters above
sea level. Mt Shalhavit - 1983 meters above sea
level. LookOut points: Mitzpe Ramta - 1194 meters above sea
level. Mitzpe Bulan - Unknown Altitude. Mitzpe Naftaly - Unknown Altitude. Mitzpe Horan - above ~2000 meters Mitzpe Shlagim - 2224 meters above
sea level. Additional Sources: The story of the Golan The Golan Heights is a plateau in the
northeast of Israel, border of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Formed of volcanic rock it rises up to
1700 ft above the surrounding land, it drops off to the west to the Sea
of Galilee, and the Jordan River, and to the south to the Yarmouk River.
The Golan is usually divided into three regions: northern (between
Nahals Sa'ar and Gilabon), central (between Nahals Gilabon and Dilayot),
and southern (between Nahal Dilayot and the Yarmouk Valley). In the Six
Days War, in 1967, the IDF climbed the Golan and freed the Israeli
residents of the North from the nightmare of Syrian military presence on
the Golan. For the 19 years that Syria ruled the
Golan, the area was used as a military platform for continuous attacks
against the settlements in the Hula, Galilee and Jordan Valley. Only
after taking over the Golan, it was found how vital the area is for the security
of Israel and for maintaining our water
sources. This knowledge has led to the decision of the government that
the Golan should become an inseparable part of Israel. This decision was
brought into reality by establishing communities on the Golan,
developing the region and by officially annexing it to the State of
Israel. The annexation took place by a special law
- "The Law of the Golan" which was accepted by the Israeli
Parliament in December 1981. Returning to the Golan has reconnected us
to our Jewish legacy in this region and to the long history
of the Jewish people that lived on the Golan. From God's promise to
Abraham, through the dispersion of the twelve tribes of Israel, the
thriving village of Gamla dating back to Temple times, significant
Jewish presence during the Talmudic period, and to the settlement of
Bnei Yehuda established on the Golan in the beginning of the Zionist
movement at the end of the 19th century; connects the Jewish people with
the Golan for over 3,000 years. During the last 33 years a vibrant reality
has been created on the Golan that can set an example to every other
region in Israel. The establishment of 33 communities,
a developed economy, and prosperous tourism are only examples of what
has been achieved. Famous tourism
sites that attract over 2 million visitors a years, are spread all
across the Golan from the ski resort on the Hermon Mountain in the north
to the hot water springs in Hamat Gader in the South. In between,
canyons with white water springs, the seashores of the Eastern Kinneret,
and impressive historical remains like Gamla, Qatzrin, and Nimrod's
Castle can be found. Maps of the Golan For more details see
http://english.golan.org.il/
The Golan Heights profile
The
Golan Heights Water Sources Map
The
Golan Heights Communities Map
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