EL AL | Atmosphere

See the Sights I Beaches

A moment of peace at Zikim Beach

Fishing boats in the village of Jisr az-Zarqa

The bridge at the Nahal Tanninim estuary

A shot of the Atlit fortress taken beside the ruins of Karta

A man fishing at Hof HaSharon Beach

Jisr az-Zarqa Beach Colorful fishing boats and nets dot the landscape of the small bay of Jisr az-Zarqa, the country’s last remaining fishing village. The village is an extension of the nearby Arab town of Jisr az-Zarqa, that is becoming an important site for local tourism. A few steps north from the bay lies Tel Tanninim (Crocodile Mound in English), named thus to echo the ancient Hellenistic city of Crocodilopolis, as Nile crocodiles used to live in the Nahal Tanninim river and in the now drained swamps that were once speckled across the Upper Galilee. A beautiful arched bridge allows pedestrians to cross the river from one side to the other. It’s a reconstruction of the bridge that was built by the rulers of Ottoman Palestine in 1898 in honor of the visit

Zikim Beach They say the human heart cannot help but be stirred by the sight of a river meeting the sea. Beholding the Shikma river pour into the Mediterranean at Zikim, Israel’s southernmost beach, undoubtedly upholds such a notion. In 1958, as Israel completed the construction of a reservoir in the area, the flow of the Shikma river was slightly deviated and its waters penetrated the groundwater, leading to the formation of a lake. However, visitors be warned: though it may be tempting to jump into the lake, entering its waters is dangerous and strictly forbidden. Beyond the river estuary, lies the Zikim sand dune trail (indicated in blue along the walking path), where visitors can delight in the beautiful palm trees and sycamores peppered among the dunes. ■

of Kaiser Wilhelm II, whose carriage crossed it on its way from Haifa to Jaffa. Beyond the bridge lies a beautiful beach accessible to all. Hof HaSharon Beach and National Park An impressive sandstone ridge towers 20 meters above the narrow Hof HaSharon Beach, the width of which is barely 10 meters. When the sea is agitated, waves crash against the steep ridge and flood the coastline. Located between Shefayim and Ga’ash, Hof HaSharon National Park allows visitors to admire the coastline view from above, and in blissful peace, as the walking trail is not accessible to vehicles. A long wooden deck overlooks the ridge as well as the power plants of Ashdod to the north, and those of Hadera to the south.

20 ATMOSPHERE AUGUST 2022