The Ashdod sand-dune field
By Yaacov Nir
The sand dune fields extending along the Israel Mediterranean coast from
Rafah in the Sinai border to Caesarea, a few km west of the southern tip of Mount
Carmel belong to the northerly branch of the huge northern-Sinai "sea" of dunes.
Most of the sand composing these dunes was derived from the High Ethiopian Plateau
transported by the Blue Nile cutting through hundreds of meters of thick Nubian
sandstone layers. The main mineral of this sand is quartz, with small quantity of
carbonates mostly originating from shells of small land snails, and a minor amount of
heavy minerals. These sands, while reaching the Nile delta coast are transported by
the longshore currents eastwards towards the Sinai coasts, and than to the east, and the
north-east towards the Israeli coast. Surpluses of beach sand were carried and
transported inland by the wind mostly through river mouths, and in regions where no
coastal-cliff exists.
The Israeli dune fields are forming five separate lobes between the various
rivers of the western watershed of the country. These lobes covered earlier to the
massive development of settlements an overall area of about 240 sq. km. The volume
of sand and, the average thickness of the dunes is larger in the southern sector,
decreasing gradually northwards.
Since 1964 when beach sand mining for construction purposes was totally
ceased as a result of a Government law, the sand dunes became the main source for
fine aggregates. As a result, huge amounts of sand were removed from this important
natural feature. Many sand quarries reached the Kurkar* base rock and therefore were
deserted. Dwellings, roads, garbage burial sites, industrial regions, etc. covered some
other great extensions of sand regions, causing to their disappearance. These activities
caused an almost total destruction of this most important natural feature, those "white
lungs" of Israel, which hardly survive and are almost at their final breathing state.
The Ashdod sand-dune field, which is mostly located south of the city, is the
last lobe that survived "development". Although large parts of its northern section
were swallowed by urban parts of the city and industry, its southern parts are still
saved. This field has the advantage that its supply of beach sand is almost not affected
by back-shore cliff. As a result, sand can migrate from the beach, inland in order to
have a fresh supply to the existing dunes.
Another most fact that should be mentioned, is the importance of the dunes for
the coastal aquifer as a filter to rain water. Every square meter of sand that is
being lost becomes into a strong hit to the so delicate water situation of Israel.
In conclusion: Israel is known to have many successes on the one
hand, and countless mistakes and bad environmental
management on the other. The result of the latter is the loss
of many important and delicate natural sites. If the
authorities, Governmental as well as local, will continue
with this terrible and irresponsible way of management
towards the natural Eco-systems of the country (which
are in most cases irreversible), the system will collapse
and disappear - a condition which such as densely
populated country can not afford.
* "kurkar" - is a local term for carbonate cemented quartz sandstone of Pleistocene age.