Southern Israel is
characterized by desert
and colorful rock formations. The area
includes the Negev Desert, and is home to
small groups of Bedouin nomads. Read
more about the sites of Southern Israel
below.
In
1947,
Bedouin
shepherds
discovered clay jars in
a cave near
the Dead
Sea. The jars
contained what we now know as the Dead
Sea Scrolls. Today, visitors to Qumran
can view ruins from the Essene settlement
in Qumran, or see scroll fragments
discovered in the nearbye caves.
For
thousands of years the Dead Sea has
been used as
a healing
place for a
variety of
diseases and
ailments. This inland sea divides Israel and
Jordan, and is world renowned for its high
salinity. Come here to float, enjoy a mud
treatment, or relax at one of the many
spas! The Dead Sea is also famous as the
lowest place in the world.
The
ruins of the Biblical city of Be'er
Sheva offer
modern
travelers a
glimpse at
life in
Biblical times. The archaeological park
at the site boasts a long network of
underground cisterns, as well as houses
built underground to escape the desert
heat.
A
magnificent
desert
fortress built
by Herod the
Great,
Masada
offers a
breathtaking
view of the Dead Sea. It has special historical significance to the Jewish
population of Israel, and is most famous
for the 900+ Jewish zealots who
committed mass
suicide there. It offers
plenty of archaeology for the casual
traveler, and holds a natural splendor that
is truly unique to the Negev Desert.
The
city of
Eilat sits on
the Red Sea
and features
an active
nightlife. The
boardwalk
is great for
shopping, and the climate is warm year-
round. The surrounding beaches offer
passages to the Red Sea, with beautiful
coral reefs for divers and snorkelers.
