Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
T HE D E AD S EA
A N D T HE N EGE V DES ERT
I
n this the most arid and inhospitable region of the Holy Land, even
the waters of its great lake are incapable of supporting life, hence
the “Dead Sea”. But in times past, the harsh remoteness of the hills
and desert was prized by reclusive communities and rebels, and so the
t
area is dotted with ancient ruins charged with biblical significance.
Today, the Dead Sea is no longer so
remote - just a 20-minute ride from
Jerusalem on an air-conditioned
bus. Tourists flock to its shores to
test its incredibly buoyant waters.
The lowest body of water in the
world, it has such a high salt content
it is impossible to sink. Its mineral-
rich mud is also claimed to have
therapeutic qualities and a string
of lakeside spas do good busi-
n
e
ss out of the black, sticky silt.
Away from the water, high up on
are a few groups of Bedouin
(see p249)
tenaciously clinging
to traditional nomadic ways.
Over the centuries, there
have been many attempts to
cultivate the desert. More than
2,000 years ago, the Negev was
the final stage for caravans on
the spice and incense route from
India and southern Arabia to the
Mediterranean; the Nabataeans who
controlled the route perfected
irrigation and cultivation techniques
and established flourishing cities, such
as Ovdat
(see p202)
. More recently,
Israel has initiated programmes for the
economic development of the region
in the form of desert kibbutzim.
In spite of this desire to tame the
desert, more and more people these
days come in search of all that remains
wild and undeveloped. In this respect,
the Negev still has much to offer.
A
the rocky hillsides are the caves in
which the Dead Sea Scrolls were dis-
covered, while on a mountain top to
the south is Herod the Great's fortress
of Masada, one of the most stunning
attractions in all Israel.
Where the Dead Sea ends, the Negev
Desert begins. Here, the only signs of
life, apart from the odd convoy of
tourists exploring canyons and craters,
The secluded retreat of St George's Monastery, hidden in a desert canyon near Jericho
Masada on the Dead Sea, one time rebel fortress, now the most visited archaeological site in Israel
