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Photo: Roi Idan
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Photo: Roi Idan

Thousands flock to nature to enjoy spring weather

With warm spring weather and Passover vacation for adults and kids alike, tens of thousands of Israelis and tourists are hitting some of Israel's best nature reserves, parks and beaches from the north to the south.

Warm, spring weather on the first day of Passover has brought tens of thousands of Israelis to nature and hiking sites around the country.

 

 

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (NPA) reported that some 60,000 visitors packed nature reserves and parks, with the most popular sites being Masada National Park, the Banias Nature Reserve, Caesarea National Park and the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

 

Motorcyclists at Mount Bental in the Golan (Photo: Doron Golan) (Photo: Doron Golan)
Motorcyclists at Mount Bental in the Golan (Photo: Doron Golan)

 

Photo: Roi Idan (Photo: Roi Idan)
Photo: Roi Idan
 

 

Photo: Ido Erez (Photo: Ido Erez)
Photo: Ido Erez

 

In Israel's south, visitors flocked to the Mal'akhim-Shkharya Forest, Yatir, Shokeda and the Nahal Grar Park.

 

Additionally, in what has become an annual tradition, some 1,000 motorcycle enthusiasts converged on Mount Bental in the Golan Heights to see the sunrise.

 

Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority (Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority

 

Photo: Ranan Ben Tzur (Photo: Raanan Ben Tzur)
Photo: Ranan Ben Tzur

 

Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority (Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority

 

The Hula Valley has had more than 1,500 travelers since the Tuesday morning and KKL-JNF is offering guided tours of the botanical garden free of charge.

 

Likewise, roughly 17,000 people are gathering on the shores of the Kinneret. Rescue stations on beaches around the lake have already opened and NPA inspectors are distributing garbage bags to vacationers in order to keep the beaches clean.

 

Photo: Kinneret Authority (Photo: Kinneret Authority)
Photo: Kinneret Authority

 

Photo: Kinneret Authority (Photo: Kinneret Authority)
Photo: Kinneret Authority

 

Photo: Kinneret Authority (Photo: Kinneret Authority)
Photo: Kinneret Authority

 

Eitan Kempel, director of the Masada area of the NPA, said, "Every day we are ready to accommodate thousands of tourists, and we are excited about the opportunity to expose people to the site. They (visitors) woke up a little late after the holiday, but the site is lively and the weather is pleasant."

 

Various performances on Masada are planned for Wednesday and officials expect attendance at the site to peak at 3,500 visitors per day.

 

Photo: Ido Erez (Photo: Ido Erez)
Photo: Ido Erez

 

Photo: Motti Kimchi (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Photo: Motti Kimchi

 

Photo: Ido Erez (Photo: Ido Erez)
Photo: Ido Erez

 

Travelers are expected to continue their holiday activities as temperatures are expected to rise Wednesday before rainfall moves in Thursday and Friday.

 

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.11.17, 16:13
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