Here is my attempt at a map of Israel. It is a rather small country (8,019 square miles) and has several unique features. One such feature is the fact that several regions of the country are Arab lands under Israeli control. Those areas are the West Bank (on the eastern border of the country), Golan Heights (in the north eastern corner of the country), and the Gaza Strip (in the southwest corner of the country). Some very famous Biblical sites are located in the West Bank, including the Judean wilderness and Bethleham, the birthplace of Jesus. There are also three seas in or bordering Israel-- the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Dead Sea is the lowest point of elevation in the country. It is actually 1,310 feet BELOW sea level. Little water flows into the Dead Sea, so it has a high salt and mineral content. The water is so salty that it burns the skin a little. The high salt content also lets you float easily on the surface of the sea. In fact, it is VERY difficult to keep your feet under water. When you do get them there, you can walk through the water almost as if walking on land.
The Mediterranean Sea is the enormous body of water between Asia, Africa, and Europe. In Israel, the Mediterranean makes up the western border of the country. While in Israel, I lived on the coast of the Mediterranean. It is a beautiful area. The Mediterranean has long been a means of transportation in this region of the world. Famous ports like Alexandria, Egypt use the Mediterranean Sea for transportation.
The Sea of Galilee is actually a small fresh water sea. It is perhaps most famous because of the Biblical importance of many sites located all around the Sea and some events which took place on the waters of the Sea. It is located in the north eastern part of Israel, near Jordan and the Golan Heights.
The country of Israel as we now know it has existed since 1948. It's official name is Medinat Yisra'el (State of Israel). About 4,810,000 people live in Israel-- many of the people are Jews from Europe and the United States who have moved to the area in the 50 years since Israel was founded. As a result, the most common languages are Hebrew, Arabic, and English. Israel's location also makes it an important area for followers of several religions, including Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
In it's short history, Israel has fought in several wars. These wars occur mainly against neighboring Arab nations and the Arabic population in the occupied territories. As a result of this very turbulent atmosphere, Israel requires both males and females to complete mandatory militray service. It is not uncommon to see young people carrying around assault rifles or to see groups of armed soldiers being trained.
There is much more to be said about this tiny, but interesting, country. When time permits, I plan to do more research for information on this page and links to other internet sites. For now, shalom! The information contained in this page comes from the Comprehensive World Reference Guide, published by Instructional Fair, Inc. and from my own observations during my 4 week visit in the summer of 1997.
