janeandbobandmore: RAMON CRATER IN THE NEGEV DESERT

RAMON CRATER IN THE NEGEV DESERT

Driving south through the Negev Desert from the town of Beersheva en route to Eilat, one comes upon a spectacular geological site -- the 2000 foot deep Ramon Crater. Israel has designated the Ramon Crater as a national park with limited areas for mountain biking, hiking, overnight camping, and stargazing. One can take a professionally guided nighttime jeep tour in the crater to see wildlife – hyenas, snakes, even leopards who live in caves during the heat of the day.

The road to Eilat goes down the crater rim and runs on the crater floor passing many interesting geological formations and fossil remains from the bottom of an ancient sea. To serve tourists, a hotel hugs the rim of the crater. Each ground level room has its own small pool that overlooks the vast and majestic crater. Sunrise over its rim is an unforgettable experience.

In fact, the largest part of Israel is desert. With great foresight and love for the landscape, Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion predicted that the Negev is Israeli’s frontier and that tens of thousands will settle there. Setting the example when out of office, David Ben-Gurion and his wife Paula retired to Kibbutz Sde Boker and are buried overlooking the great expanse of the Negev.

Today the early steps of settlement are coming to pass. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) is moving many of military bases to the Negev; a railway is planned to terminate in Eilat; Ben Gurion University of the Negev is the fastest growing research university in Israel. Creative Israeli technology has made great strides in overcoming the desert shortcomings – with drip irrigation; 80% of water used being recycled; and ingenious methods of desalinization.