In and around Jerusalem


arnoldslyper@inandaroundjerusalem.com

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  • Summary of walks in JerusalemClick to open the Summary of walks in Jerusalem menu
    • The City of David
    • An introduction to the Old City
    • The Jerusalem Archaeological Park, Davidson Center and the Western Wall
    • On the Temple Mount
    • The Jewish Quarter - community building, destruction and renewal
    • The northern Rampart of the Old City wall and the Via Dolorosa
    • Mount Zion via the southern rampart of the Old City wall
    • Nachla'ot and Mahane Yehuda Market ('the Shuk")
    • Teddy Kollek - a great builder of Jerusalem
    • Ein Kerem and its artisans via the Jerusalem Forest
    • Yemin Moshe to Nahalat Shivah
    • Givat Ram - birds, roses, the Supreme Court and Knesset
    • The German Colony and Liberty Bell Park
    • Jerusalem during the British Mandate - from Mamilla Mall to the First Station
    • Pioneers of modern Jerusalem - Dr. Ticho, Ben-Yehuda and Rav Kook - in the city center
    • The Sherover and Haas Promenades and water supply system for Second Temple Jerusalem
    • The haredi neighborhoods of Zikhron Moshe and Meah She'arim
    • The gorgeous Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
    • Nature walk: the Cedar Trail in the Jerusalem Forest.
    • Nature walk: Gazelle Valley Park
    • The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
    • A countryside hike on the Gazelle Trail in the Ramot Forest
    • Mount Scopus - its university, botanical garden and lookout points
    • The Mei Neftoah (Lifta) Nature Reserve and Arazim Valley Park
  • The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overviewClick to open the The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overview menu
    • The Shvil Hamaayanot and Yad Kennedy memorial
    • To Ein Kerem via Ein Hindak and the Ein Kerem National Park
    • The springs of Emeq Refaim
    • From Tzomet Ora (near Hadassah-Ein Karem) to the springs of Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar in Emeq Refaim
    • Ancient agriculture in Sataf
    • The unusual cave formations in Nahal Halilim
    • To Tzuba Spring and the crusader ruins of "Belmont"
    • To Ein Hindak and Ein Bichura in the Sataf Reserve
    • The spring of Ein Kobi and the luscious ravine of Nahal Kobi in the Begin Forest
    • The beautiful Nahal Katlav
    • Outpost 21 via the historic Burma Road
    • Hiking above Nahal Sorek
    • The spring of Ein Hod and Crusader castle at Hurvat Beit Itab
    • Derech HaKaiser (The Caesar's Way) and overlook of Nahal Zanuach
    • Castel National Park
    • HaHamisha Forest and visit to the Harel Brigade Monument In Har Adar
    • Hiking or biking around Har Eitan
    • The HaHamisha Forest and Ein Kfira spring
  • IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and OverviewClick to open the IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and Overview menu
    • Hiking to Tel Azeka
    • A walk to the ruins of Qeiyafa - Goliath will you please stop hollering?
    • To the ruins of Quiyafa from the Elah Valley
    • Tel Tzafit and the Philistines
    • Neot Kedumim and agriculture in ancient Israel
    • A circular hike around Givat Hatourmusim (Hill of Lupins)/ Tel Socho
    • Tel Adulam
    • Hiking in the Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park
    • The ancient synagogue at Um el-Umdan, Sher Hill, and the Maccabees of Modi'in
    • Midras, Itri and the Bar Kochba Revolt
    • Discovering the Roman city of Emmaus in the Ayalon Canada Park
    • Burgin
    • The tombs of the Maccabees
  • The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractionsClick to open the The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley  - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractions menu
    • Attractions from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, including Ma'ale Adumim
    • A nature walk In the wadis of Maale Adumim
    • Ein Prat Nature Reserve
    • Ein Mabu'a
    • Ein Qelt
    • Nahal Og
    • Qumran
    • Enot Tsukim/(Ein Feshkha for swimming and nature stroll
    • The Botanical Gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi
    • Nahal David, Ein Gedi Spring and ancient synagogue at Ein Gedi
    • Ein Gedi - Nahal Arugot
    • Along the Jordan Valley
    • Qasr el Yahud National Park
  • South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal TekoaClick to open the South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal Tekoa menu
    • Herodium
    • The Gush Etzion Springs
    • Nahal Tekoa
  • North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and ShiloClick to open the North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and Shilo menu
    • Nebi Samuel National Park
    • Beth El - the place of a dream
    • The Tabernacle at Shilo
  • Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean DesertClick to open the Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean Desert menu
    • From the First Station to Ein Lavan and Ein Haniya
    • A desert ride around Ma'ale Adumim
    • The Arazim bicycle trail from Arazim Valley Park
    • Spectacular views from the Aminidav Forest and Yad Kennnedy
    • The Burma Road in the Shefela
    • From Tzafririm to the ruins of Itri in the Adulum Park - a village frozen in time
    • In Adulam Park - views, lupins and tels
    • Britannia Park and Tel Azeka
    • A ride around Har Eitan
  • Horseback riding close to Jerusalem
  • Outdoor swimming in spring-fed pools and swimming pools in and around JerusalemClick to open the Outdoor swimming in spring-fed pools and swimming pools in and around Jerusalem menu
    • The Zippori Center in the Jerusalem Forest
    • The "Country Club "in Ma'ale Adumim, the most beautiful city in Israel
    • Ein Hemed National Park (Aqua Bella) - swimming, picnicking and fortified Crusader home
    • The Palm Pool at Ein Prat
    • The artesian pool at Ein Mabu'a
    • The Sport's Club at Ramat Rachel
    • Mesilat Zion swimming pool
    • Ein Lavan
    • The spring-fed pool of Ein Haniya
    • Swimming in Shoresh in the Judean Mountains
    • The swimming pool at Kibbutz Almog close to the Dead Sea
    • Swimming at Enot Tsukim/ Ein Feshkha by the Dead Sea
    • A natural-style rock pool by Mevo'ot Yericho in the Jordan Valley
    • The spring pool in the Mei Neftoa (Lifta) Nature Reserve close to the Central Bus Station
    • The kids pool at Rechelim
  • A timeline of Jerusalem and list of essays on this website
  • Outdoor trips suitable for a stroller or wheelchair
  • Common flowers in the Judean Mountains
  • Trees, bushes and flowers of the Desert
  • Contact Us

The Botanical Gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi



This botanical gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi overlooking the Dead Sea is a jewel in the Judean Desert - and is a must to visit. In reality, the entire kibbutz is one big Botanical Gardens! As one website put it – this is the only botanical garden in the world in which people live. 

At the office by the entrance to the kibbutz you are provided with a map in either Hebrew and English with instructions on the route and the location of guided stops and lookouts. It also contains descriptions of the plants, although these can also be found adjacent to the plants. The plants are from a variety of climes and continents, including Madagascar, the Caribbean, India, Africa, America and Australia.


Are you finding this website useful? You will also find my new book “In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone,” extremely valuable. It is a guide to the best walks, hikes and attractions in and around Jerusalem. For more details, incredible reviews and purchasing options see our Home page.

Before you do this, why not check out this short video about the book?


Admission to the botanical garden: Adult 20 NIS; children (3-12), senior Israeli citizens, soldiers, students and persons with disabilities 15 NIS.

Hours of the garden: Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. The gardens are closed on Friday and Shabbat.  

The kibbutz web site contains lots of information about the kibbutz and its ornamental gardens.

You can also stop at the reasonably priced, kosher cafeteria within the kibbutz hotel for coffee or a dairy meal. 

Directions: Enter "Ein Gedi Hotel" into Waze. The kibbutz is only a few kilometers from Ein Gedi Reserve along route 90. 

Public transport: Enter "Ein Gedi" into Moovit. Bus 486 goes directly to the kibbutz from the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. Bus 444 goes only to the kibbutz access road on route 90. From here it is about a 0.7 mile, 15 minute walk to the kibbutz.

These exotic plants overlooking the Dead Sea create incredible views. 

 

Almost every path in the Botanical Gardens is a botanical spectacle. The hills of the Judean Desert can be seen in the background.

 


BACKGROUND

THE DEAD  SEA - DEAD AND STILL DYING

The Dead Sea is at the lowest point on earth, is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, is 6 times saltier than the ocean - and is in deep trouble. 

The Dead Sea is located in the Jordan Rift Valley that extends through the eastern part of Africa and into Turkey. This valley results from the moving apart of two tectonic plates – the African Plate and Arabian Plate – leading to a thinning of the earth’s crust. They are in fact still moving apart at a rate of about 13 inches a year.   

About 3.7 million years ago, oceanic water from the Mediterranean poured into the Jordan Rift Valley through the Jezreel Valley. Subsequently, there was a rise in the intervening mountains and the precursor to the Dead Sea became landlocked. Sediment gathered at the bottom of the lake and pushed out thick deposits of salt. This is why “Mount Sodom” at the southwest aspect of the lake is a mountain made of salt. 

The source of water for the Dead Sea is the Jordan River, rivers on the eastern side of the lake, such as the Yarkon River, and subterranean springs that enter into and around the lake. Most river water has been syphoned off for agriculture. Industrial potash production from the Dead Sea Works also leads to water evaporation. As a result of this and normal water evaporation from the high ambient temperature, the level of the Dead Sea has been receding at a rate of about 3 feet a year. As a result of this, the peninsula that formerly ended in the middle of the lake has become a land bridge. The ground water level has also dropped and this is flushing out brine near the shoreline leading to sinkholes. In fact, it is dangerous to get too close to the Dead Sea in many parts of the western Israeli side of the lake. Sink holes are not a problem on the Jordanian side because the cliffs descend steeply into the lake.  

There are currently no viable plans to save the Dead Sea. Bringing in water from the Mediterranean would probably change the nature of the lake. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) would be deposited and could turn the Dead Sea white. There is currently a plan budgeted by the World Bank and signed onto by Israel, Jordan and the Palestine Authority to bring in water from the Red Sea. Water will be brought by channels to feed a power station in Jordan and some of the water will be desalinated. The power and the desalinated water will be shared among the parties and the natural sea water and hypersaline water from the desalination plant will be fed into the Dead Sea. However, as one article stated: "the Dead Sea will next decade be swallowing waters it never tasted and thus launch a new chapter in its history". Nevertheless, the amount of water from the desalination plant will not be that grea, and it will hardly solve the Dead Sea's problems.

Despite all this, there is no reason not to benefit from this unique and remarkable area. The sunlight at the Dead Sea has weaker ultraviolet radiation than at sea level and the atmospheric pressure is slightly higher. The atmosphere also has a slightly higher oxygen content and less allergens. These probably account for the health benefits claimed for visiting here, including healing of psoriasis lesions. The hotels in Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea are also highly popular. This town is actually on the banks of an absorption basin for the Dead Sea Works, and its level is rising each year because of deposition of salt within the basin. Clearly, there are many challenges ahead!

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arnoldslyper@inandaroundjerusalem.com