Nature Archives - Yoni Tours

Sep 09
0

Brand new ancient dates- a rebirth of botanical history

Posted by | Archaeology, current events, Food, History, Nature, plants, Uncategorized | No Comments

If you’ve been on a tour with me in the Judean desert, then you may remember hearing about the ancient history of dates and their significance in Jewish culture. I probably offered you dates and coffee and talked about the ancient seeds that were found in the area, and were planted by scientists.

Now there is an update to that story: fifteen years after those ancient seeds were planted, the date tree has borne fruit.

The story behind this fruity adventure is surprising, exciting and unlikely!

It started in 2005 ,at the Arava Institutein Kibbutz Ketura, when Dr. Solowey planted two thousand year old date pits.

In order to get the pits, that had been found in an archaeological dig at Masada in 1960, to sprout, secret combinations of heat, hydration, plant hormones and fertilizers were used.

Against all odds the seeds sprouted and grew to be a small palm tree. The tree, which was named Methuselah, turned out to be a male tree which can’t bear fruit.

The researchers went looking through other stores of ancient seeds that were discovered around the Judean desert and planted multiple seeds in the hope that they would be able to grow a female tree.

A pit (Hannah) found in a dig at Wadi Makhukh near Jericho grew to be the long-awaited female palm. She (the pit) dated back to the fourth century BC making her one of the oldest ever found.
After growing for six years Hannah flowered!

The researchers collected pollen from nearby Methuselah and brushed it onto Hanna’s flowers.
Against all odds, Hannah bore fruit which ripened and were harvested.

At a special celebration a few of the dates were tasted- they have a dry nutty flavour similar to dates originating from Iraq.

During this time of year right before Rosh Hashanna, The Jewish New Year, as dates are being harvested across the country and palm fronds are being collected for the celebration of Succot, the connection of dates and palms to Jewish culture and history is more tangible and flavourful than ever!

Jul 31
1

Ein Tina- Water fun in The Golan!

Posted by | Hikes, Nature, Uncategorized, water | No Comments

Have you ever wanted to climb up a mountain as water is rushing around you? Ein Tina spring is the perfect spot!

Ein Tina is a spring that starts half way up the side of the of the Golan heights. and runs down into the Kinneret.
The nice, cool rushing water makes for the perfect stop in the middle or at the end of a long day.

There is a pool at the foot of the stream which is great for small kids to play in.
The water isn’t very deep (at most places around knee high which makes it great for children).

For the older children there is a circular route that allows you to climb up the mountain side to the source of the stream. recently railings were put in because the wet rocks can be quite slippery.

There is a secondary path that takes a dry route back to the lower pool.
Ein tina is a great experience! It makes for a nice and easy climb up hill walking against the rushing water.
The walk is rocky and you should definitely wear water shoes. Bring drinking water and snacks.

 

Directions:
for waze users: ‘Ein Tina’ or חניון עין תינה

Approx. 6 Km south of Gonen on road 918 there is a little bridge. Just before the little bridge there is a dirt road heading off to the left.
Turn onto the dirt road and park the car in the clearing. You can continue driving but the dirt road is quite uneaven (1 on the map)
Walk or drive along the dirt road and follow the green trail symbol for 800 meters and you will arrive at the lower pool of Ein Tina. (2 on the map)
From the pool you can climb up the rushing wateron the  green trail untill you arrive at the source of the spring (3 on the map)
From the spring you can loop back on a dry path blue trail (4 on the map)

Have a great time!

Jul 23
1

Einot Tzukim -a wet getaway that’s fun for kids!

Posted by | Hikes, Nature | No Comments

Hidden away the judean desert there is a national park hidden from common knowledge. it has deep swimming pools and tens of shallow natural streams along with plenty of space for making picnics!

This relatively unknown park is a surprising find and is not as well known as other parks in the area.

Off the main road from Jerusalem to Ein Gedi, Einot Tzukim is a beautiful hidden nature reserve.  It is is fed by a number of underground springs that spring out of the cliff that runs along the northern part of the Judean desert.

The springs have a varying level of salinity and give way to a wide array of plants and animals that can grow in the reserve.

In fact, due to it’s isolated location and the high salinity of some of the water there are is a type of fish that lives only here!

All of this is true but the real reason to come to Einot Tzukim is that it has many pools of water for people to play in.

There are the large man made swimming pools that fill with natural spring water, and small shallow natural pools which are perfect for little children.

The site has places for picnics and even grilling.

As packed as the entrance can get, there is plenty of space.

The larger/deeper pool is close to the entrance of the site and the smaller pools are further back.

With smaller kids, I recommend driving to the absolute end of the parking lot.

Einot tzukim makes for a great day outing for a family with kids!

Sep 27
0
Wolf in Judean Desert

Wolf attacks in the Judean Desert

Posted by | current events, Nature, Uncategorized | No Comments

In the past couple of years there have been a number of incidents of wolves attacking people in various camp sites and outdoor areas across the Judean Desert.

These have occurred in the areas around Massada and Ein Gedi which have are visited by thousands of tourists and Israelis every year.

The attacks have almost always been attempts to capture small children, generally in dark areas and only a small distance from adults.

This is alarming because it appears that two things have happened- the wolves have lost their fear of humans and they have begun to view humans as an optional food source.

researchers feel that there are a few things that may have lead to this happening.

It is possible that wolves have started identifying people with food as a result of food not being stored properly or being left in nature.

Another possibility is that these aren’t purebred wolves but a mix of wolves and dogs which would account for them not being scared of humans.

You’re probably asking; is it safe to go out to the desert? how do I protect myself?

It is safe to go out hiking in the Desert although you need to make sure to clean up after yourself and store food in away that animals can’t get to it.

Stay close to children!  Especially after dark.

If you see wolves getting close to people contact the parks authority.

Aug 02
1

Meteor Shower in the Negev Desert

Posted by | current events, Gems of Israel, Hikes, Nature | No Comments

With its dark skies, wide open spaces and deep valleys the Negev Desert is known as the place to go for stargazing. The desert brings two major factors to the table when it comes to dark skies;

The first factor is light pollution. The few and far between built up areas bring light pollution to a minimum.

The second and possibly the more important factor is the small amount of humidity in the air. The lack of humidity provides clearer skies. these two aspects make the Negev the optimum location for star gazing.

Over the years, hundreds of youth groups have hiked through the valleys of the Negev at night in order to spend time stargazing.

In and around the Ramon crater there are dozens of locations which are beckoning for stargazers and photographers alike.

At Khan HaShayarot and the Ramon Crater there are guided star gazing activities and they can be organized year round.

In the clarity and darkness of the night skies in the Negev, The naked eye can see a number of planets, the milky way, and a plethora of constellations.

In order to make the star gazing experience complete I suggest looking at a moon calendar, plan to be out on a night when the moon sets early and or is not a full moon.

All of this is true on a regular night. from time to time there are meteor showers!

Every year the Perseids Meteor Shower happens over the skies of Israel.

During the shower myriads of people head to the desert in order to see the meteors in all their glory!

This year the meteor shower will be on the dates of 11,12 and 13 of august. The shower will be at its strongest on the night of the 12th.

There are going to be organized star gazing events throughout the desert. But nothing beats going out to the desert as a family or with a guide!

Enjoy!!

Dec 23
1
Grus Cranes enjoying the warmth of the Hula Valley

Birds, migration and the Hula Valley

Posted by | Nature, Sites, Uncategorized | No Comments

Birds, Migration and the Hula Valley

Every year millions of birds travel across the world in order to be in optimal breeding places at the right time. In general, birds enjoy spending the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere and the winter months in the southern hemisphere where it is warm and where food is plentiful.

Some birds are known to travel as far as 14,000 km each migration. Birds can fly high enough to traverse the Himalayas and other high mountain ranges.

There are two main methods of migration. Smaller birds, such as quail and hummingbirds, “actively” travel the great distances. They fly overnight for long stretches and then spend a couple of days eating and recuperating before their next flight. Because they spend the entire flight flapping their wings, they are able to cross large bodies of water.

Larger birds such as storks and cranes use thermals and glide over large distances. This means that the large birds have to fly during the day and over land.

These factors together result in large numbers of birds at bottlenecks between the hemispheres, in places such as southern Mexico, Gibraltar, the Philippines, and surprisingly enough, Israel.

Now, if you take large numbers of birds and bring them to an area which is relatively warm, quiet and has food and water, the birds will feel as though they checked into a five star hotel. Some birds will stop for a quick bite and carry on, some will stay overnight, and some may decide to stay.

This is what happens at the Hula Valley, which is a paradise for birds and bird watchers alike!

The Hula valley, located in northern Israel, is a large valley between Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. The valley was originally wetlands which were the perfect place for the birds.

These wetlands were dried up by Israel during the 1950’s to make room for agriculture. This devastated the ecological balance of the area and many of the birds stopped migrating over this area.

In the 1960’s, Israel recognised the depth of the mistake and part of the valley was reflooded. Over time, many of the birds which had stopped visiting started to come back, and only recently a frog which was thought extinct was rediscovered!

Nov 23
4
Climbing down one of the rock faces in Nahal Dargot

The Hike of Hikes- Nahal Dragot

Posted by | Gems of Israel, Hikes, Nature | One Comment

Even though Israel is such a small country, it has a wide variety of landscapes, regions and hikes. Between the deserts, forests, tropics and other areas, there is one hike which sets itself apart from the rest.

Among the many beautiful and challenging hikes in Israel, Nahal Dragot, or Nahal Daraje in Arabic, is widely recognized as the most extreme hike of all.

Nahal Dragot is a stream which has carved a canyon through the majestic cliffs of the Judean Desert. It is called “Dragot”: (steps, or levels in Hebrew) because of ‘steps’ that it has carved while making its way through the mountains. It covers a relatively short distance of only about 6 km, but the hike can take as a long as 7-8 hours to complete. The stream takes you down almost 380 vertical meters from the Judean Mountains to the Dead Sea!

The hike requires climbing down dried waterfalls, swimming across pools of water, sliding through chutes and climbing ladders. If you decide to embark on this journey, you should take a rope which is at least 10 metres long, as at some points the use of a rope is required.

Nahal Dragot is best to do a couple of days after rain – the pools in this desert canyon will be full of fresh water which allows a much better swimming experience. Entrance to the hike is dangerous on days with a possibility of rain anywhere in the Jerusalem-Bethlehem-Hebron area as there is a danger of flash floods!
Inside the canyon there is no cell phone coverage and no fresh drinking water. You should head out with at least 3 liters of water per person.

Driving on highway 90 from Jerusalem towards Ein Gedi, here is a brown sign pointing to ‘Metzukai Dragot’ ‘מצוקי דרגות’ on the right. Following that road up the cliff you will pass a desert hostel. Approx. 2 Km after the hostel is the beginning of the hike. It is marked by the green trail.

Due to the cliffs, the hike is one way only and isn’t circular. It is best to go with two cars and leave one at the end point. If you have access to only one car you can hitchhike.

In order to be allowed to do the hike you have to sign up ahead of time through the parks authority. this is done to control the number of hikers in the canyon. In addition the parks authority requires that each group bring at least 20 meters of climbing rope!

Enjoy!

May 13
1

The most Beautiful of all Flowers

Posted by | Nature | One Comment

It is said that when the Queen of Sheba came to visit king Solomon she made a number of tests in order to verify rumors of his intelligence.

For one of the many tests, she put him into a room full of fake flowers and his task was to find the one real flowers. The room had hundreds of flowers made of pottery, wax, material, and glass.

Each of the flowers was dipped in a different perfume so that Solomon wouldn’t be able to sniff an easy answer.
King Solomon walked into the room and after looking around carefully he picked up the one cyclamen and exclaimed: ‘No human could make such a beautiful and delicate flower. This is the true one!’.

On hearing the exclamation- the humble Cyclamen blushed and bowed her head in shame. To this very day she is still bowed and blushing.

The Cyclamen or Rakefet רקפתas it is called in Hebrew, is a relatively common wild flower in Israel.
The flower grows in the rocky mountainous regions. It flowers between December and April making it one of the longest lasting flowers.

In addition to being common in nature the beautiful flower is also grown quite often in gardens.
The bulbs have been known to reach into their 20’s. As the bulb grows they can support more flowers. Older bulbs can sprout over one hundred flowers in a single season.

Of the 23 types of cyclamen only two grow in Israel. The flowers range in colour from white to vibrant pink.
The Cyclamen Persicum grows over the entire mountains range whereas the Cyclamen Coum grows only in the Meiron mountain and parts of the Golan heights making it a relativerly rare flower.

Feb 03
1

Of Plants and Pillows

Posted by | Nature | No Comments

You’ve already been up and on your feet for hours…you see a bush that looks nice and springy, almost fluffy. It is beckoning. You want nothing more than to lie down on it and go to sleep. As you come closer to the bush you realize that it is covered in small thorns… Or maybe at different time while in the army- possibly during an ambush the thorny bush was the most comfortable place to lie and wait….

I have experienced both of these scenarios. Do you know what plant I’m referring to?

It’s called the Prickly Burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum). In Hebrew it is called the Sira Kotzanit סירה קוצנית which translated directly means prickly pot.

Since my military service I have been fascinated by this specific bush. I’m not sure why- maybe it is because of the green bush in a mostly arid region. Maybe it’s the domed shape which helps the plant resist the strong winds in the mountains. I can’t say exactly what it is was but I’ve always had a interest in this bush.
During a course on biblical plants and animals, that I took in Bar Ilan University, my class went on a trip to the biblical gardens/ reserve of Neot Kedumim. At the park we were given explanations of many different plants and their uses.

In ancient times and even up to the present the Prickly Burnet was used as a “mattress”. Thick blankets were piled over the bush to protect from the prickles but the user was able to take advantage of the springiness and the insulation from the cold ground. Basically it is nature’s spring mattress.

If that isn’t enough to give a bush a use- it was also planted as a natural fence to keep sheep from wandering away during the night. as a result of its size and its ability to withstand strong winds it is more permanent than most wooden fences.

I hope that this little post will help bring fame to the majestic Prickly Burnet. If you are ever on a trail and get a scratch from one- just remember- be nice to it because if you get stuck outside at night it could be your mattress.

Dec 17
0

A Storm Called Alexa

Posted by | Nature | One Comment

Last week Israel was hit by a snow storm the likes of which hasn’t been seen in over 100 years. In all honesty, usually when there is snow in Jerusalem it is barely a centimeter. The entire city shuts down and i laugh. After all- growing up in Canada- I experienced my fair share of snow storms and cold. But this storm was bigger than most of the storms that I remember…

This particular storm started with torrential downpours on Tues. Dec. 10. The next morning I travelled to Ein Prat which is a nature reserve in one of the valleys of the Judean Desert. The rain was falling non-stop, and it was cold- cold enough for me to wear a jacket, pants and closed shoes- all three of which I rarely wear.
While I was at Ein Prat I had the opportunity to see a shitafon (flash flood) from a safe location. From a slow moving shallow stream of clear water- I could hear the water rumbling in the distance- the stream suddenly rose about a meter in depth and the clear water was replaced by brown muddy water. I always find it awe inspiring to witness the strengths of nature..

That night (Wed. Dec.11) I stayed with friends in Jerusalem on the off chance that I may get to see some snow in the night. I had gotten messages from family in the mountains of Samaria that they had snow, so I woke up at 6 which was supposed to be the coldest point of the day expecting to see snow.
There still wasn’t any in Jerusalem, so I went back to sleep.

At 7:20 my friend woke me up because the snow had started to fall. After two hours there was more than enough to have a snow ball fight- so we did.
Untill the mid afternoon the snow continued to fall. Jerusalem doesn’t really have snow plows nor do cars have winter tires- so the city came to a stand-still. I began to worry about how I would get out of Jerusalem back to my family as the roads to and from Jerusalem were blocked by snow.

The roads were opened for a few hours during a lull in the snow fall and I managed to get back home. Soon after I left Jerusalem the snow began falling again and continued to fall until Saturday.

The storm was so severe that it was even named! It’s name is Alexa.

Many houses were cut off from electricity, cellular towers fell and roads were blocked leaving many towns and cities completely isolated.

My family in Samaria was stuck in their house without electricity for 3 days until jeeps were able to evacuate them. Almost a meter of snow fell in their settlement.
The city of Tzfat was also blocked off from the rest of the country for a few days. Jerusalem saw around 50cm of snow. Only now, 3 days later, are people in Jerusalem starting to go to work and children starting to go to school.

3 days after the storm more than 14 thousand houses still don’t have power. That’s a bigger problem than you may think because houses in Israel have very little insulation. Even when heaters are on the houses are still cold.

My extended family with whom we had lost contact with for a few days are O.K..

For my part- I got to play in the snow. All of us are still cold and wondering if we’ll see any more snow this year….

 

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