ISRAEL: Hiking The Shvil Israel trail - 3. Negev desert

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• published: 29 Apr 2016
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It is time to come back акщь Jerusalem to the Shvil Israel trail. The Eyn Cobi source is a beautiful place to take a little rest. But there is no water here, unfortunately. The power line leads to the tomb of Sheikh Hubani. In Hirbat Hanot there was once a caravanserai. The trail passes on a site of the antique Roman road. It is officially called - Caesar Road — it was constructed in 133 AD. Since the time the Roman legions went on this road, it has almost not changed. The Al valley — one of the large agricultural areas. Tel Azeka hill — a historical place. In the Bible, the battle scene played on this place, in approximately 1200 BC, is described. There was a battle between David and Goliath. The city of Beyt-Guvrin, known in antique times as, Elevferopol, is located in a very convenient place — the point of intersection of important trade routes. Lakhish, nowadays know as Tel-ed-Duveyr, took base here in the second millennium BC. It is mentioned in the Bible among the cities strengthened by the king of Judah Rehoboam. The Yatir wood occupies a space of about 40 sq.km. Up to 1964, there was a blank space here. Then trees gradually began to be planted and now, there are already over 4 million trees. The city of Hirbat Hiran existed during the Byzantine period. From it remains the ruins of two basilicas and fragments of walls. The trail goes through the Yatir wood on top of the mountain of Amas. From here the beautiful view of the valley Arad opens. The road which is cut down by Romans, passes by a stone quarry towards the Bedouin village of Dardzhat. The trail also passes by the Tel Arad hill. Arad is the "Russian-speaking" city. There are no more foreigners here, than in Moscow, meaning those who don't speak Russian. Nakhal Elim leads through the gorge, to the ruins of the Roman outpost Zokhar Rudjum. Meyzad Tamar — one more Roman boundary guard post. Near there passes the highway No. 45 connecting Tel Aviv with Eilat. One of them hides in the narrow gorge near the source of Eyn Zafit. There is always at least a little water, after the rain. In the Negev desert, there are five craters. The first on the way is the Hazir crater. Also known as Maktesh Katan or, "Small crater". The trail crosses the crater Maktesh Katan on a diagonal. In the beginning it goes down, below sea-level, then passes at the bottom and rises back on the opposite crest. Meyzad Zafir, in the 2nd - 3rd centuries of our era, was a boundary post of the Roman Empire. From here, the Arawa valley and the Edom mountains, which are already on the territory of Jordan, are perfectly visible. The trail leads to the edge of the Nakhal Yemin canyon. The trail conducts on the crest of the Karbolet mountain. Its name translates as "A cock crest". On the Nakhal Afran gorge, the trail goes down to the foundation of Karbolet mountain. Here, the Zin plateau begins. The Eyn Akev source is a very popular place. The water here is always pure and cool. Ii is very tempting to bathe here. The trail goes through the narrow gorge of Nakhal Hava. And then leads to the edge of the Ramon crater. It is the largest erosive crater in the world. In the settlement of Mitzpe Ramon, they have constructed a huge tourist complex overlooking a crater. At the Be'erot Khan Inn is the ground for the installation of tents — both open-air and under a thatched roof. And rise again - on the mountain Parsat Nekarot. Its name can be translated as "Horseshoe". We spent the night at the Gev Holit camp. It is in the gorge Nakhal Geled, near the dry falls. The trail continues along the gorge Nakhal Nekarot, then begins to rise to the mountain Yakhav. The trail takes you to the wide Nakhal Karkeshit gorge. We are in a huge caldera, or in other words, at the bottom of a volcano. The ancient Nabatean city of Moa, was one of the largest trading centers on the Road of spices. The trail continues along the wide gorge of Nakhal Ashosh. It then passes into the neighboring gorge and brings us to the road leading to the entrance of the Barack canyon. And then it goes down and through the Vardit canyon and lowers into the wide gorge Nakhal Parran. The part of the trail going from Zikhor to Shizafon, goes parallel to the highway No. 40. The sandy dunes of Kasui — is one of the brightest and unusual sights of the Negev desert. The trail brings us to the steep edge of Maale Milkhan. The descent down to the valley Arawa begins. Behind the valley, the mountains of Edom are visible in the distance. Followed by a slow and long rise to the top of the Timna mountain. In the center of the Timn park there is a real oasis - Agamas Nekhushtam. In 48 days, 920 kilometers have been walked, from the kibbutz Dan on the far north of Israel, to Eilat. Narration was done by Frederic Moretti (fredericmorettimusic@gmail.com)