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Preserving and restoring our natural wonders has been part of the Zionist mission for more than a century. Since 1900, more than one billion trees have been planted in Israel in a massive reforestation effort designed to reverse centuries of neglect.
There are more than 50 national parks in Israel, many that are home to major historic sites.
Take Israel's first nature reserve... at one time, the Hula Valley was an important resting place for birds migrating from Europe to Africa and back. Tens of thousands of birds found refuge in the pond and swamps. In addition, many species of rare fish and plants lived here, creating a wonderland of flora and fauna.
Immediately following the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, the government decided to drain the swamps and pond - which covered more than 15 thousand acres at the time - and convert them into agricultural fields. The task of draining the Hula Valley began in 1951. Scientists and nature lovers in Israel waged a vigorous battle to conserve at least part of the original landscape and eventually the government agreed to set aside 800 acres of the pond for a nature reserve. Officially declared in 1964, the Hula Valley Nature Reserve was the first nature reserve in Israel.
Eilat Bay sits at the northern tip of a magnificent coral reef which straddles the equator. The clear, warm sea (at least 20 degrees centigrade) provides the ideal environment for the coral to build their homes. The coral reef is as variegated as its inhabitants are: ichthyologists have identified over 100 types of stony coral and 650 species of fish in the Coral Beach Reserve.
The reserve is a utopia for snorkelers. The 1200-meter-long reef is only 20 meters from the shore, with a shallow lagoon lying between the beach and the coral. The black-quilled sea urchin is just one of the unusual animals that inhabit the lagoon.
A wooden bridge leads from the shore to the beginning of the reef. To enjoy the phantasmagoria, visitors jump from the four-meter wall or walk down the steps into the sparkling water. The lime secreted by the stony coral hardens into formations that resemble trees, shrubs, balls, and brains, to name just four. The reserve also is home to soft coral, whose fantastically odd shapes are reminiscent of, for instance, a head of cabbage, a mushroom, or algae.
The Coral Beach Reserve has an unusually wide variety of coral and fish clustered in a small area. The reserve looks totally different in the morning than it does in the afternoon. When the diurnal fish retire for the day, the nocturnal fish take their place, creating a brand new world.
The Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority will soon open a center with exhibits and films about the sea and the marine environment.
Anyone who can swim can enjoy a fantastic glimpse into the natural world. All it takes is a mask and a snorkel!
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