Geography of Israel

Coordinates: 31°N 35°E / 31°N 35°E / 31; 35
Extended-protected article
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Geography of Israel
ContinentAsia
RegionLevant
Coordinates31°N 35°E / 31°N 35°E / 31; 35
AreaRanked 150th
 • Total20,770[1][2] km2 (8,020 sq mi)
 • Land97.88%
 • Water2.12%
Coastline273[1] km (170 mi)
Borders
Highest pointMount Meron
Lowest pointDead Sea
Longest riverJordan River
Largest lakeSea of Galilee
ClimateMediterranean
Natural resourcesOffshore gas fields, Dead Sea minerals (potash, magnesium)
Exclusive economic zone26,352 km2 (10,175 sq mi)

The geography of Israel is very diverse, with desert conditions in the south, and snow-capped mountains in the north. Israel is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia.[1] It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, the northeast by Syria, the east by Jordan and the West Bank, and to the southwest by Egypt.[1] To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea, which makes up the majority of Israel's 273 km (170 mi) coastline,[3] and the Gaza Strip. Israel has a small coastline on the Red Sea in the south.

Israel's area is approximately 20,770 km2 (8,019 sq mi), which includes 445 km2 (172 sq mi) of inland water.

Exclusive Economic Zone
of 26,352 km2 (10,175 sq mi).

The Israeli-occupied territories include the West Bank, 5,879 km2 (2,270 sq mi), East Jerusalem, 70 km2 (27 sq mi) and the Golan Heights, 1,150 km2 (444 sq mi).[2] Geographical features in these territories will be noted as such. Of these areas, Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, an act not recognized by the international community.

Southern Israel is dominated by the

Judean Hills of the West Bank, whilst the central and northern coastline consists of the flat and fertile Israeli coastal plain. Inland, the northern region contains the Mount Carmel mountain range, which is followed inland by the fertile Jezreel Valley, and then the hilly Galilee region. The Sea of Galilee is located beyond this region and is bordered to the east by the Golan Heights, a plateau bordered to the north by the Israeli-occupied part of the Mount Hermon massif, which includes the highest point under Israel's control, a peak of 2,224 meters (7,297 ft). The highest point in territory internationally recognized as Israeli is Mount Meron at 1,208 meters (3,963 ft).[1]

Location and boundaries

Main article: Borders of Israel
Israel on the world map

Israel lies to the north of the equator around 31°30' north latitude and 34°45' east longitude.

List of countries and outlying territories by total area.[1]

Prior to the establishment of the

Sykes-Picot Treaty in 1916 divided the region that later became Palestine into four political units.[5] Under the British Mandate for Palestine, the first geo-political framework was created that distinguished the area from the larger countries that surrounded it. The boundary demarcation at this time did not introduce geographical changes near the frontiers and both sides of the border were controlled by the British administration.[6]

Modern Israel is bounded to the north by Lebanon, the northeast by Syria, the east by Jordan and the West Bank, and to the southwest by Egypt. To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea, which makes up the majority of Israel's 273 km (170 mi) coastline and the Gaza Strip. Israel has a small coastline on the Red Sea in the south. The southernmost settlement in Israel is the city of Eilat whilst the northernmost is the town of Metula. The territorial waters of Israel extend into the sea to a distance of twelve nautical miles measured from the appropriate baseline.[1]

The statistics provided by the

Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The route of the Israeli West Bank barrier
incorporates some parts of the West Bank.

Name Status Description Population (thousands) Area (km2)
Israeli settlers in the Israeli-occupied territories
) 		Cumulative Total
Palestinians (incl. non-Israeli Palestinians residing legally in Israel
) 		Cumulative Total Area Cumulative Total
Israel (Green Line) Area sovereign to Israel since 1948 6,674[7] 6,674[7] 100–120[8] 100–120[8] 20,582[7] 20,582[7]
East Jerusalem Occupied and subject to Israeli law since 1967. Formal legislation on 1980 (see Jerusalem Law) 455[9] 7,129[7] 225 (double counted)[10] 225[7] 336[11] 20,918[7]
Golan Heights Occupied since 1967, subject to Israeli law since 1981 (see Golan Heights Law) 42[12] 7,172[12] n.a. n.a. (Syrians) 1,154[13] 22,072[13]
Seam Zone (West Bank) Area between the Green Line and the Israeli West Bank barrier. Occupied in 1967 188[14] 7,359[7] 35[14] 260[7] 200[11] 22,272[7]
Other Israeli settlements and IDF Military Areas (West Bank Area C) Other Israeli settlements (not in East Jerusalem or the Seam Zone) and areas in the West Bank directly controlled by the IDF. Occupied in 1967 57[7] 7,473[12] 115[15] 375[7] 2,961[16] 25,233[7]
Palestinian civil control (West Bank Areas A+B) Palestinian National Authority civil controlled area. Subject to "joint" military control with the IDF. Occupied in 1967 0 7,473[7] 2,311[17] 2,686[7] 2,143[15] 27,376[7]
Gaza Strip
unilaterally disengaged
in 2005, declared a foreign entity in 2007. 		0 7,473[7] 1,552[18] 4,238[7] 360[18] 27,736[7]

Physiographic regions

Israel is divided into four physiographic regions: the

Mediterranean coastal plain, the Central Hills, the Jordan Rift Valley and the Negev Desert.[1]

Coastal plain

Main article: Israeli coastal plain

The Israeli Coastal Plain stretches from the Lebanese border in the north to

fertile and humid (historically malarial) and is known for its citrus orchards and viticulture.[19] The plain is traversed by several short streams. From north to south these are: Kishon, Hadera, Alexander, Poleg, and Yarkon. All of these streams were badly polluted, but in the last ten years much work has been done to clean them up.[dubious – discuss] Today the Kishon, Alexander and Yarkon again flow year round, and also have parks along their banks.[20]

Geographically, the region is divided into five sub-regions. The northernmost section lays between the Lebanese border, the

Halutza region, which is very sparsely populated.[21]

Central hills

Judaean Mountains

Inland (east) of the coastal plain lies the central

Plain of Esdraelon), which stretches 48 kilometers (30 mi) from Haifa southeast to the valley of the Jordan River, and is 19 kilometers (12 mi) across at its widest point.[19]

Jordan Rift Valley

Main article: Jordan Rift Valley
Jordan Rift Valley

East of the central highlands lies the

Gulf of Eilat.[19]

Negev Desert

Main article: Negev
Makhtesh Ramon

The

Sinai Desert, forming a rough triangle with its base in the north near Beersheba, the Dead Sea, and the southern Judean Mountains, and it has its apex in the southern tip of the country at Eilat.[19] Topographically, it parallels the other regions of the country, with lowlands in the west, hills in the central portion, and the Arava valley as its eastern border.[19]

Unique to the Negev region are the craterlike

Makhtesh Katan.[22] The Negev is also sub-divided into five different ecological regions: northern, western and central Negev, the high plateau and the Arabah Valley.[23] The northern Negev receives 300 millimeters (11.8 in) of rain annually and has fairly fertile soils.[23] The western Negev receives 250 millimeters (9.8 in) of rain per year, with light and partially sandy soils.[23] The central Negev has an annual precipitation of 200 millimeters (7.9 in) and is characterized by impervious soil, allowing minimum penetration of water with greater soil erosion and water runoff.[23] This can result in rare flash floods during heavy rains as water runs across the surface of the impervious desert soil.[24] The high plateau area of Ramat HaNegev stands between 370 meters (1,214 ft) and 520 meters (1,706 ft) above sea level with extreme temperatures in summer and winter.[23] The area gets 100 millimeters (3.9 in) of rain each year, with inferior and partially salty soils.[23] The Arabah Valley along the Jordanian border stretches 180 kilometers (112 mi) from Eilat in the south to the tip of the Dead Sea in the north and is very arid with barely 50 millimeters (1.97 in) of rain annually.[23]

Geology

Main article: Geology of Israel
Rosh HaNikra chalk cliff

Israel is divided east–west by a mountain range running north to south along the coast. Jerusalem sits on the top of this ridge, east of which lies the Dead Sea graben which is a pull-apart basin on the Dead Sea Transform fault.[25]

The numerous

karst topography. Caves in the region have been used for thousands of years as shelter, storage rooms, barns and as places of public gatherings.[25]

The far northern coastline of the country has some chalk landscapes best seen at Rosh HaNikra, a chalk cliff into which a series of grottoes have been eroded.[26]

Seismic activity

Main article: 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 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 seismic activity in the region.

The entire Jordan Valley segment is thought to have ruptured repeatedly, for instance during the last two major earthquakes along this structure in 749 and 1033. The deficit in slip that has built up since the 1033 event is sufficient to cause an earthquake of Mw ~7.4.[27]

The most catastrophic earthquakes occurred in 31 BCE, 363, 749, and 1033 CE, that is every ca. 400 years on average.[28] Destructive earthquakes leading to serious loss of life strike about every 80 years.[29] While stringent construction regulations are currently in place and recently built structures are earthquake-safe, as of 2007 the majority of the buildings in Israel were older than these regulations and 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 quake.[29] Given the fragile political situation of the Middle East region and the presence there of major holy sites, a quake reaching magnitude 7 on the Richter scale could have dire consequences for world peace.[28]

Rivers and lakes

Main articles: List of rivers of Israel and List of lakes of Israel
Israel is the sixteenth most water stressed country in the world.

Israel's longest and most famous river is the 320-kilometre (199 mi) long

Hasbani.[30] Only the Dan is within undisputed Israel; the Hasbani flows from Lebanon and the Banias from territory captured from Syria in the Six-Day War.[30]

Lake Kinneret

The Sea of Galilee (also called the Kinneret) is Israel's largest and most important

freshwater lake, located in the northeast of the country. The pear-shaped lake is 23 kilometres (14 mi) long from north to south, with a maximum width of 13 kilometres (8 mi) in the north, covering 166 square kilometers (64 sq mi). The Kinneret lies 207 meters (679 ft) below sea level and reaches depths of 46 meters (151 ft). In a previous geological epoch the lake was part of a large inland sea which extended from the Hula marshes in northern Israel to 64 kilometers (40 mi) south of the Dead Sea. The bed of the lake forms part of the Jordan Rift Valley.[31]

South of the Kinneret lies the saltwater Dead Sea which forms the border between Israel and Jordan and is 418 meters (1,371 ft) below sea level, making it the lowest water surface on Earth.[32] The Dead Sea is 67 kilometers (42 mi) long with a maximum width of 16 kilometers (10 mi) and also makes up part of the Rift Valley.[32] A peninsula juts out into the lake from the eastern shore, south of which the lake is shallow, less than 6 meters (19.7 ft) deep. To the north is the lake's greatest depth.[32]

There are no navigable, artificial waterways in Israel, although the

National Water Carrier, a conduit for drinking water, might be classified as such. The idea of a channel connecting the Mediterranean and Dead Seas or the Red and Dead Seas has been discussed.[33]

Selected elevations

Mount Tabor

The following are selected elevations of notable locations, from highest to lowest:[34]

Location Region Elevation (feet) Elevation (meters)
Mount Hermon Golan Heights (Israeli-occupied) 7,336 ft. 2,236 m.
Mount Meron Upper Galilee 3,964 ft. 1,208 m.
Mount Ramon Negev 3,396 ft. 1,035 m.
Mount of Olives East Jerusalem (Israeli-occupied) 2,739 ft. 835 m.
Mount Tabor Lower Galilee 1,930 ft. 588 m.
Mount Carmel Haifa 1,792 ft. 546 m.
Dead Sea Judean Desert  – 1,368 ft.  – 417 m.

Climate

Israel map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification zones
Snow in Galilee
Flash flood at Ein Avdat

The northern half of Israel, has a

Arabian deserts, and the subtropical humidity of the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean.[35] The climate conditions are highly variable within the state and modified locally by altitude, latitude, and the proximity to the Mediterranean.[35]

On average, January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from 6 to 15 °C (42.8 to 59.0 °F), and July and August are the hottest months at 22 to 33 °C (71.6 to 91.4 °F), on average across the country.[35] Summers are very humid along the Mediterranean coast but dry in the central highlands, the Rift Valley, and the Negev Desert. In Eilat, a desert city, summer daytime-temperatures are often the highest in the state, at times reaching 44 to 46 °C (111.2 to 114.8 °F). More than 70% of the average rainfall in Israel falls between November and March; June through September are usually rainless.[35] Rainfall is unevenly distributed, significantly lower in the south of the country.[35] In the extreme south, rainfall averages near 30 millimeters (1.18 in) annually; in the north, average annual rainfall exceeds 900 millimeters (35.4 in).[35] Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year, particularly in the Negev Desert. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and flash floods.[35] In winter, precipitation often takes the form of snow at the higher elevations of the central highlands, including Jerusalem.[35] Mount Hermon has seasonal snow which covers all three of its peaks in winter and spring. In rare occasions, snow gets to the northern mountain peaks and only in extremely rare occasions even to the coast. The areas of the country most cultivated are those receiving more than 300 millimeters (11.8 in) of rainfall annually, making approximately one-third of the country cultivable.[35]

Thunderstorms and hail are common throughout the rainy season and waterspouts occasionally hit the Mediterranean coast, capable of causing only minor damage. However,

Western Galilee in April 2006, causing significant damage and 75 injuries.[36]

Heat waves are frequent. 2010 was the hottest year in the history of Israel with absolute record high in several places in August. The heat became stronger from August when temperatures were considerably above the average. October and November were also dry, and November was almost rainless when it was supposed to be rainy.

Climate charts of different locations in Israel

Tel Aviv
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
127
 
 
17
9
 
 
90
 
 
18
10
 
 
61
 
 
19
12
 
 
18
 
 
23
14
 
 
2.6
 
 
25
17
 
 
0
 
 
28
21
 
 
0
 
 
29
23
 
 
0
 
 
30
24
 
 
0.4
 
 
29
23
 
 
26
 
 
27
19
 
 
79
 
 
23
15
 
 
126
 
 
19
11
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
5
 
 
63
48
 
 
3.5
 
 
64
50
 
 
2.4
 
 
67
53
 
 
0.7
 
 
73
58
 
 
0.1
 
 
77
63
 
 
0
 
 
82
69
 
 
0
 
 
85
73
 
 
0
 
 
86
75
 
 
0
 
 
85
73
 
 
1
 
 
81
66
 
 
3.1
 
 
74
58
 
 
5
 
 
67
52
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Beit Dagan
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
141
 
 
18
7
 
 
97
 
 
18
7
 
 
66
 
 
20
9
 
 
18
 
 
25
12
 
 
2.2
 
 
27
15
 
 
0
 
 
29
18
 
 
0
 
 
31
21
 
 
0
 
 
31
21
 
 
0.4
 
 
30
19
 
 
20
 
 
28
16
 
 
76
 
 
24
12
 
 
130
 
 
20
9
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
5.5
 
 
64
45
 
 
3.8
 
 
65
45
 
 
2.6
 
 
68
48
 
 
0.7
 
 
76
53
 
 
0.1
 
 
81
58
 
 
0
 
 
85
64
 
 
0
 
 
87
69
 
 
0
 
 
88
70
 
 
0
 
 
87
67
 
 
0.8
 
 
83
61
 
 
3
 
 
75
53
 
 
5.1
 
 
67
47
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Jerusalem
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
133
 
 
12
6
 
 
118
 
 
13
6
 
 
93
 
 
15
8
 
 
25
 
 
22
13
 
 
3.2
 
 
25
16
 
 
0
 
 
28
18
 
 
0
 
 
29
19
 
 
0
 
 
29
20
 
 
0.3
 
 
28
19
 
 
15
 
 
25
17
 
 
61
 
 
19
12
 
 
106
 
 
14
8
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
5.2
 
 
53
44
 
 
4.7
 
 
55
44
 
 
3.6
 
 
60
47
 
 
1
 
 
71
55
 
 
0.1
 
 
78
60
 
 
0
 
 
82
64
 
 
0
 
 
84
67
 
 
0
 
 
85
67
 
 
0
 
 
83
65
 
 
0.6
 
 
76
62
 
 
2.4
 
 
66
54
 
 
4.2
 
 
57
47
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Haifa
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
125
 
 
17
9
 
 
92
 
 
18
9
 
 
53
 
 
20
11
 
 
24
 
 
24
14
 
 
2.7
 
 
26
17
 
 
0
 
 
29
21
 
 
0
 
 
31
23
 
 
0
 
 
31
24
 
 
1.2
 
 
30
22
 
 
28
 
 
28
19
 
 
77
 
 
24
14
 
 
136
 
 
19
10
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
4.9
 
 
63
48
 
 
3.6
 
 
64
48
 
 
2.1
 
 
67
51
 
 
0.9
 
 
75
56
 
 
0.1
 
 
79
63
 
 
0
 
 
85
69
 
 
0
 
 
88
73
 
 
0
 
 
89
74
 
 
0
 
 
86
71
 
 
1.1
 
 
82
65
 
 
3
 
 
75
57
 
 
5.3
 
 
67
50
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Safed
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
159
 
 
9
5
 
 
130
 
 
10
4
 
 
95
 
 
13
6
 
 
43
 
 
20
11
 
 
5.7
 
 
25
14
 
 
0
 
 
28
17
 
 
0
 
 
30
19
 
 
0
 
 
30
19
 
 
1.5
 
 
28
18
 
 
25
 
 
24
15
 
 
86
 
 
17
10
 
 
136
 
 
12
6
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
6.3
 
 
49
40
 
 
5.1
 
 
50
40
 
 
3.7
 
 
56
43
 
 
1.7
 
 
67
51
 
 
0.2
 
 
77
58
 
 
0
 
 
83
63
 
 
0
 
 
86
66
 
 
0
 
 
86
66
 
 
0.1
 
 
83
64
 
 
1
 
 
75
59
 
 
3.4
 
 
62
51
 
 
5.3
 
 
53
44
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Beersheba
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
50
 
 
17
8
 
 
40
 
 
18
8
 
 
31
 
 
20
9
 
 
13
 
 
26
13
 
 
2.7
 
 
29
15
 
 
0
 
 
31
18
 
 
0
 
 
33
21
 
 
0
 
 
33
21
 
 
0.4
 
 
31
20
 
 
5.8
 
 
29
17
 
 
20
 
 
24
13
 
 
42
 
 
19
9
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2
 
 
62
46
 
 
1.6
 
 
64
46
 
 
1.2
 
 
68
49
 
 
0.5
 
 
78
55
 
 
0.1
 
 
84
60
 
 
0
 
 
88
65
 
 
0
 
 
91
69
 
 
0
 
 
91
70
 
 
0
 
 
88
67
 
 
0.2
 
 
83
62
 
 
0.8
 
 
74
55
 
 
1.6
 
 
66
48
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Tiberias
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
90
 
 
18
10
 
 
73
 
 
19
9
 
 
57
 
 
23
11
 
 
20
 
 
28
14
 
 
4
 
 
33
18
 
 
0
 
 
36
20
 
 
0
 
 
38
23
 
 
0
 
 
38
23
 
 
0.6
 
 
36
22
 
 
14
 
 
32
19
 
 
50
 
 
26
15
 
 
81
 
 
20
11
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.6
 
 
65
49
 
 
2.9
 
 
67
49
 
 
2.3
 
 
73
51
 
 
0.8
 
 
83
58
 
 
0.2
 
 
92
64
 
 
0
 
 
97
69
 
 
0
 
 
100
73
 
 
0
 
 
100
74
 
 
0
 
 
97
71
 
 
0.5
 
 
90
66
 
 
2
 
 
78
59
 
 
3.2
 
 
68
52
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Eilat
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
3.5
 
 
21
10
 
 
5.8
 
 
22
11
 
 
3.7
 
 
26
14
 
 
1.7
 
 
31
18
 
 
1
 
 
35
22
 
 
0
 
 
39
24
 
 
0
 
 
40
26
 
 
0
 
 
40
26
 
 
0
 
 
37
25
 
 
3.5
 
 
33
21
 
 
3.5
 
 
27
16
 
 
6
 
 
22
11
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.1
 
 
69
49
 
 
0.2
 
 
72
51
 
 
0.1
 
 
78
56
 
 
0.1
 
 
88
64
 
 
0
 
 
96
71
 
 
0
 
 
102
76
 
 
0
 
 
104
79
 
 
0
 
 
104
79
 
 
0
 
 
99
76
 
 
0.1
 
 
91
70
 
 
0.1
 
 
81
60
 
 
0.2
 
 
72
52
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Natural resources

See also: Natural gas in Israel

Unlike much of the Middle East which is rich in lucrative

crude oil are present, often too little to merit commercial extraction.[1] In 2009, significant reserves of natural gas were discovered at the Tamar 1 offshore drilling site, 90 kilometers west of Haifa. It is the largest natural gas reserve ever discovered in Israel.[37]

Environmental concerns

Main article: Environmental issues in Israel
Ashdod dunes
Formerly polluted Kishon River after clean-up, 2010

Israel has a large number of environmental concerns ranging from natural hazards to man-made issues both resulting from ancient times to modern development. Natural hazards facing the country include

chemical fertilizers, and pesticides are issues facing the country.[1]
Israel has signed many international environmental agreements and is party to:[1]

Signed but not ratified:

Rural settlements

Kibbutz Lotan

Israel's rural space includes several unique kinds of settlements, notably the moshav and the kibbutz.[38] Originally these were collective and cooperative settlements respectively.[38] Over time, the degree of cooperation in these settlements has decreased and in several of them the cooperative structure has been dismantled altogether.[38] All rural settlements and many small towns (some of which are dubbed "rurban settlements") are incorporated in regional councils. Land use in Israel is 17% arable land, 4% permanent crops, and 79% other uses.[1] As of 2003 1,940 square kilometers (749 sq mi) were irrigated.[1]

There are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Golan Heights, and 29 in East Jerusalem.[1]

Islands

Israel has the

Rosh Hanikra Islands and the Achziv Islands within its territorial waters. The Israeli government plans to build artificial islands off the coast to house an airport, a seaport, a desalination plant, a power plant, and a military testing base, as an answer to Israel's lack of space.[39][40]

Human geography

Further information: List of cities in Israel and Districts of Israel

^a This number includes East Jerusalem and West Bank areas, which had a total population of 573,330 inhabitants in 2019.[42] Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is internationally unrecognized.

Satellite image of Israel at night

As of 2013, the population of Israel is 8 million, 6,015,000 of them Jewish.[43]

For statistical purposes, the country has three

Gush Dan-Tel Aviv (population 3,150,000), Haifa (population 996,000), and Beersheba (population 531,600).[44] Some argue that Jerusalem, Israel's largest city with a population of 763,600,[45] and Nazareth,[46] should also be classified as metropolitan areas. In total, Israel has 74 cities, 14 of which have populations of over 100,000. Other forms of local government in Israel are local councils of which there are 144 governing small municipalities generally over 2,000 in population,[47][48] and regional councils of which there are 53, governing a group of small communities over a relatively large geographical area.[47][49]

Israel's population is diverse demographically; 76% Jewish, 20%

haredi; 9% are "religious", 12% "religious-traditionalists", 27% are "non-religious traditionalists", and 43% are "secular".[52] Other small, but notable groups in Israel, include Circassians of whom there are approximately 3,000 living mostly in two northern villages, 2,500 Lebanese, and 5,000 Armenians predominantly in Jerusalem.[53]

Overshoot index

Israel is ranked

34th in the world in terms of population density with, as noted, a climate of long, hot, rainless summers and relatively short, cool, rainy winters.[35] The Population Matters 2011 overshoot index[54] ranked Israel as the third most dependent region in the World after Singapore and Kuwait
.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Israel". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
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    ISBN 978-1-4191-2689-5
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  3. ^ a b c "Israel – Geography". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  4. ^ An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, 1994, pp.40–41.
  5. ^ An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, 1994, pp.46–52.
  6. ^ An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, 1994, pp.67–69.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Figure calculated from other sourced figures in table
  8. ^ a b "MIFTAH - Family Reunification".
  9. Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. "Jerusalem Statistical Yearbook 2009/10" (PDF). Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  10. ^ Middle East Forum (March 2009). "The Politics of Palestinian Demography". Middle East Quarterly. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  11. ^
    Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "Barrier Report July 2009. Calculation based on East Jerusalem area of 346km2 being 97% west of the barrier, and 9.5% of the West bank including East Jerusalem being in the Seam Zone" (PDF). Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. "Israeli Census data" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  13. ^ a b Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. "Israeli statistical Area data" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  14. ^ a b B'Tselem. "Separation Barrier Statistics". Archived from the original on 20 November 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
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    Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "Area C Humanitarian Response Plan Fact Sheet September 2010. Assumes 35,000 Palestinians estimated by B'Tselem to be living in the Seam Zone are included in the 150,000 OCHA estimate" (PDF). Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  16. ^ CIA World Factbook. "West Bank population. Based on total area of 5,640km2 including East Jerusalem and excluding water. Figure shown calculated from other figures sourced on page". Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  17. ^ CIA World Factbook. "West Bank population. Assumes CIA World Factbook number excludes Israeli settlers but includes estimated 225k Palestinians living in East Jerusalem". Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  18. ^ a b CIA World Factbook. "Gaza Strip population. Excludes Israeli settlers, but includes estimated 225k Non-Israeli Palestinians in East Jerusalem". Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Israel Topography". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  20. ^ "River Restoration". Israel Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  21. ^ a b "The coastal plain". Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
  22. ^ "Makhteshim Country". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Israel's Negev Desert". Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  24. ^ "Israel Natural Environment". Geckogo.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009.
  25. ^ a b c "Geology of Israel". Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  26. ^ "Rosh HaNikra". JAFI. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  27. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.049
    .
  28. ^ a b 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). [1] Archived 6 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ a b 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." [2]
  30. ^ a b c d "River Jordan". Encarta. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  31. ^ "Lake Tiberias". Encarta. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  32. ^ a b c "Dead Sea". Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Dead Sea Canal". Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  34. ^ Statistical Abstract of Israel, No. 58, 2007
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Climate". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  36. ^ "'Mini-tornado' sweeps through western Galilee". Ynet. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  37. ^ Bar, Avi (18 January 2009). "Israel's largest-ever reserve of natural gas discovered off Haifa coast". Haaretz.
  38. ^ a b c "Rural Settlement Geography of Israel" (PDF). Indiana State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  39. ^ Frenkel, Billie (20 June 1995). "Israel considers building artificial islands – Israel Environment". Ynetnews. Ynet.
  40. ^ Ben, Ilan (17 June 2012). "Short on space, Israel looks to artificial islands". The Times of Israel.
  41. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  42. ^ Choshen, Maya (2021). "Population of Jerusalem, by Age, Religion and Geographical Spreading, 2019" (PDF). Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  43. ^ Druckman, Yaron (30 December 2012). "CBS: Israel home to 8 Million citizens". Ynetnews. Ynet.
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  45. ^ "Jerusalem: From Town to Metropolis". University of Southern Maine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  46. ^ "Initiated Development in the Nazareth Region". Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  47. ^ a b Mahler, Gregory S. Politics and Government in Israel: The Maturation of a Modern State. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 229.
  48. ^ Troen, Selwyn Ilan; Noah Lucas. Israel: The First Decade of Independence. SUNY Press. p. 496.
  49. ^ Herzog, Hanna. Gendering Politics: Women in Israel. University of Michigan Press. p. 22.
  50. ^ "Population by population group". Israel CBS. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  51. ^ "Population by religion". Israel CBS. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  52. ^ "Social Survey" (in Hebrew). Israel CBS. 2006. Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  53. ^ "Circassians in Israel". Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  54. ^ "Overshoot Index 2011" (PDF). Population Matters. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

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