Editing Geography of Israel

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{{Infobox country geography
 | name              = Israel
 | map               = Israel_relief_location_map.jpg
 | map_alt           = 
 | continent         = [[Asia]]
 | region            = [[Levant]]
 | coordinates       = {{coord|31|35|type:country|display=inline,title}}
 | area ranking      = 150th
 | km area           = 20,770<ref name="cia" /><ref name=IsraelCountryStudy>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vh3qJ8O73VIC&pg=PA8|title=Israel A Country Study|author=Federal Research Division|edition=Paperback|publisher=Kessinger Publishing, LLC|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4191-2689-5|page=8}}</ref>
 | miles area        = 8,019
 | percent land      = 97.88
 | percent water     = 2.12
 | km coastline      = 273<ref name="cia" />
 | miles coastline   = 170
 | exclusive economic zone= {{convert|26352|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
 | borders           = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Egypt]]: 208&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|[[Jordan]]: 307&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|[[Lebanon]]: 81&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|[[Syria]]: 83&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|[[West Bank]]: 330&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|[[Gaza Strip]]: 59&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
|Coastlines: 273&nbsp;km<ref name="cia" />
}}
 | highest point     = [[Mount Meron]]
 | lowest point      = [[Dead Sea]]
 | longest river     = [[Jordan River]]
 | largest lake      = [[Sea of Galilee]]
 | climate           = [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]]
 | terrain           = 
 | natural resources = Offshore gas fields, Dead Sea minerals (potash, magnesium)
 | natural hazards   = 
 | environmental issues = 
}}

The '''geography of Israel''' is very diverse, with [[desert]] conditions in the south, and [[Snow in Israel|snow]]-capped mountains in the north. [[Israel]] is located at the eastern end of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] in [[West Asia]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel/ | title=Israel | publisher=CIA World Factbook | access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref> It is bounded to the north by [[Lebanon]], the northeast by [[Syria]], the east by [[Jordan]] and the [[West Bank]], and to the southwest by [[Egypt]].<ref name="cia" /> To the west of Israel is the [[Mediterranean Sea]], which makes up the majority of Israel's {{convert|273|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} coastline,<ref name="geog">{{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/israel/34.htm | title=Israel&nbsp;– Geography | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress}}</ref> and the [[Gaza Strip]]. Israel has a small coastline on the [[Red Sea]] in the south.

Israel's area is approximately {{convert|20770|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, which includes {{convert|445|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of inland water.<ref name="cia" /><ref name=IsraelCountryStudy/><ref name="geog" /> Israel stretches {{convert|424|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from north to south, and its width ranges from {{convert|114|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} at its widest point to {{convert|10|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} at its narrowest point.<ref name="geog"/> It has an [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] of {{convert|26352|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.

The [[Israeli-occupied territories]] include the West Bank, {{convert|5879|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, [[East Jerusalem]], {{convert|70|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and the [[Golan Heights]], {{convert|1150|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=IsraelCountryStudy/> Geographical features in these territories will be noted as such. Of these areas, Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, an act not recognized by the international community.

Southern Israel is dominated by the [[Negev]] desert, covering some {{convert|16000|km2|sqmi|0}}, more than half of the country's total land area. The north of the Negev contains the [[Judean Desert]], which, at its border with Jordan, contains the [[Dead Sea]] which, at {{convert|-417|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} is the lowest point on Earth. The inland area of central Israel is dominated by the [[Judean Hills]] of the West Bank, whilst the central and northern coastline consists of the flat and fertile [[Israeli coastal plain]]. Inland, the northern region contains the [[Mount Carmel]] mountain range, which is followed inland by the fertile [[Jezreel Valley]], and then the hilly [[Galilee]] region. The [[Sea of Galilee]] is located beyond this region and is bordered to the east by the [[Golan Heights]], a [[plateau]] bordered to the north by the Israeli-occupied part of the [[Mount Hermon]] [[massif]], which includes the highest point under Israel's control, a peak of {{convert|2224|m|ft|0|sp=us}}. The highest point in territory internationally recognized as Israeli is [[Mount Meron]] at {{convert|1208|m|ft|0|sp=us}}.<ref name="cia" />

==Location and boundaries==
{{main|Borders of Israel}}
[[File:LocationIsrael.svg|right|thumb|250px|Israel on the world map]]

Israel lies to the north of the equator around 31°30' north latitude and 34°45' east longitude.<ref name="cia" /> It measures {{convert|424|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from north to south{{dubious|Poor source. At least 445&nbsp;km from Metula to Eilat, so 1949 borders.|date=March 2018}} and, at its widest point {{convert|114|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, from east to west.<ref name="cia" /> At its narrowest point, however, this is reduced to just {{convert|15|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. It has a land frontier of {{convert|1017|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and a coastline of {{convert|273|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="cia" /> It is ranked 153 on the [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area]].<ref name="cia" />

Prior to the establishment of the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate for Palestine]], there was no clear-cut definition of the geographical and territorial limits of the area known as "Palestine." On the eve of [[World War I]] it was described by ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' as a "nebulous geographical concept."<ref>An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and [[Magnes Press]], 1994, pp.40–41.</ref> The [[Sykes-Picot Treaty]] in 1916 divided the region that later became Palestine into four political units.<ref>An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, 1994, pp.46–52.</ref> Under the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate for Palestine]], the first geo-political framework was created that distinguished the area from the larger countries that surrounded it. The boundary demarcation at this time did not introduce geographical changes near the frontiers and both sides of the border were controlled by the British administration.<ref>An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929, Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press and Magnes Press, 1994, pp.67–69.</ref>

Modern Israel is bounded to the north by Lebanon, the northeast by Syria, the east by Jordan and the West Bank, and to the southwest by Egypt. To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea, which makes up the majority of Israel's {{convert|273|km|mi|abbr=on}} coastline and the Gaza Strip. Israel has a small coastline on the Red Sea in the south. The southernmost settlement in Israel is the [[City council (Israel)|city]] of [[Eilat]] whilst the northernmost is the [[Local council (Israel)|town]] of [[Metula]]. The [[territorial waters]] of Israel extend into the sea to a distance of twelve nautical miles measured from the appropriate baseline.<ref name="cia" />

The statistics provided by the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]] include the [[annexed]] East Jerusalem and Golan Heights, but exclude the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The population of Israel includes [[Israeli settlers]] in the West Bank. The route of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]] incorporates some parts of the West Bank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width: 75px;" |Name
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width: 200px;" |Status Description
! colspan="4" style="width: 300px;" | Population (thousands)
! colspan="2" style="width: 100px;" | Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | [[Israelis]] (incl. [[Israeli Jews]] and [[Israeli Arabs]] in Israel proper, and incl. [[Israeli settlers]] in the [[Israeli-occupied territories]])
! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" | Cumulative Total
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | [[Palestinian people|Palestinians]] (incl. non-Israeli [[Palestinian return to Israel|Palestinians residing legally in Israel]])
! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" | Cumulative Total
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Area
! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" | Cumulative Total
|-
| [[Green Line (Israel)|Israel (Green Line)]]
| Area sovereign to Israel since 1948
| 6,674<ref name="Otherfigures">Figure calculated from other sourced figures in table</ref>
| 6,674<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 100–120<ref name="miftah.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=14464&CategoryId=4|title = MIFTAH - Family Reunification}}</ref>
| 100–120<ref name="miftah.org"/>
| 20,582<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 20,582<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|-
| [[East Jerusalem]]
| [[Military occupation|Occupied]] and subject to [[Israeli law]] since 1967. Formal legislation on 1980 (see [[Jerusalem Law]])
| 455<ref name="JIIS">{{cite web |url=http://jiis.org/.upload/web%20C1009.pdf |title=Jerusalem Statistical Yearbook 2009/10 |author=Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies |access-date=5 October 2010 |author-link=Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312041014/http://jiis.org/.upload/web%20C1009.pdf |archive-date=12 March 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 7,129<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 225 (double counted)<ref name="MeForum">{{cite journal |url=http://www.meforum.org/2124/the-politics-of-palestinian-demography |title= The Politics of Palestinian Demography |author=Middle East Forum |journal= Middle East Quarterly |date= March 2009 |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>
| 225<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 336<ref name="OCHA Barrier">{{cite web |url=http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_barrier_report_july_2009_english_low_res.pdf |title=Barrier Report July 2009. Calculation based on East Jerusalem area of 346km2 being 97% west of the barrier, and 9.5% of the West bank including East Jerusalem being in the Seam Zone |author=Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |access-date=5 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013032616/http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_barrier_report_july_2009_english_low_res.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2009 |author-link=Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs }}</ref>
| 20,918<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|-
| [[Golan Heights]]
| [[Military occupation|Occupied]] since 1967, subject to [[Israeli law]] since 1981 (see [[Golan Heights Law]])
| 42<ref name="CBS Israel" />
| 7,172<ref name="CBS Israel" />
| n.a.
| n.a. ([[Syrians]])
| 1,154<ref name="CBS Israel Area" />
| 22,072<ref name="CBS Israel Area">{{cite web |url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st01_01.pdf |title= Israeli statistical Area data |author=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=5 October 2010|author-link= Israel Central Bureau of Statistics }}</ref>
|-
| [[Seam Zone]] ([[West Bank]])
| Area between the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]] and the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]]. [[Military occupation|Occupied]] in 1967
| 188<ref name="Btselem">{{cite web |url=http://www.btselem.org/English/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp |title=Separation Barrier Statistics |author=B'Tselem |access-date=5 October 2010 |author-link=B'Tselem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031120125813/http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp |archive-date=20 November 2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 7,359<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 35<ref name="Btselem" />
| 260<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 200<ref name="OCHA Barrier" />
| 22,272<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|-
| Other [[Israeli settlement]]s and [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] Military Areas ([[West Bank]] Area C)
| Other Israeli settlements (not in [[East Jerusalem]] or the [[Seam Zone]]) and areas in the [[West Bank]] directly controlled by the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. [[Military occupation|Occupied]] in 1967
| 57<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 7,473<ref name="CBS Israel">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2010/table1.pdf |title=Israeli Census data |author=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=5 October 2010 |author-link=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229062946/http://www1.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2010/table1.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 115<ref name="OCHA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_area_c_humanitarian_response_plan_fact_sheet_2010_09_03_english.pdf |title=Area C Humanitarian Response Plan Fact Sheet September 2010. Assumes 35,000 Palestinians estimated by B'Tselem to be living in the Seam Zone are included in the 150,000 OCHA estimate. |author=Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |access-date=5 October 2010 |author-link=Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011101200/http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_area_c_humanitarian_response_plan_fact_sheet_2010_09_03_english.pdf |archive-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 375<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 2,961<ref name="CIAWB Area">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ |title=West Bank population. Based on total area of 5,640km2 including East Jerusalem and excluding water. Figure shown calculated from other figures sourced on page. |author=CIA World Factbook |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>
| 25,233<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|-
| [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian]] civil control ([[West Bank]] Areas A+B)
| [[Palestinian National Authority]] civil controlled area. Subject to "joint" military control with the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. [[Military occupation|Occupied]] in 1967
| 0
| 7,473<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 2,311<ref name="CIAWB">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ |title=West Bank population. Assumes CIA World Factbook number excludes Israeli settlers but includes estimated 225k Palestinians living in East Jerusalem |author=CIA World Factbook |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>
| 2,686<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 2,143<ref name="OCHA" />
| 27,376<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|-
| [[Gaza Strip]]
| [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian]] governed area. [[Israel]] controls airspace, maritime border and its own border with Gaza. [[Military occupation|Occupied]] in 1967, [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|unilaterally disengaged]] in 2005, declared a foreign entity in 2007.
| 0
| 7,473<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 1,552<ref name="CIAGS">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gaza-strip/ |title=Gaza Strip population. Excludes Israeli settlers, but includes estimated 225k Non-Israeli Palestinians in East Jerusalem |author=CIA World Factbook |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>
| 4,238<ref name="Otherfigures" />
| 360<ref name="CIAGS" />
| 27,736<ref name="Otherfigures" />
|}

==Physiographic regions==
{{Israel Geographical Map}}
Israel is divided into four physiographic regions: the [[Israeli Coastal Plain|Mediterranean coastal plain]], the Central Hills, the [[Jordan Rift Valley]] and the [[Negev|Negev Desert]].<ref name="cia" />

===Coastal plain===
{{main|Israeli coastal plain}}
The Israeli Coastal Plain stretches from the Lebanese border in the north to [[Gaza City|Gaza]] in the south, interrupted only by Cape Carmel at [[Haifa Bay]].<ref name="topog">{{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/israel/35.htm | title=Israel Topography | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress | access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref> It is about {{convert|40|km|mi|0|sp=us}} wide at Gaza and narrows toward the north to about {{convert|5|km|mi|1|sp=us}} at the Lebanese border.<ref name="topog" /> The region is [[fertility (soil)|fertile]] and [[humidity|humid]] (historically [[malaria]]l) and is known for its [[citrus]] [[orchard]]s and [[wine|viticulture]].<ref name="topog" /> The plain is traversed by several short streams. From north to south these are: Kishon, Hadera, Alexander, Poleg, and Yarkon. All of these streams were badly polluted, but in the last ten years much work has been done to clean them up.{{dubious|Starting to count – when?|date=January 2017}} Today the Kishon, Alexander and Yarkon again flow year round, and also have parks along their banks.<ref name="restoration of rivers">{{cite web |url= http://www.sviva.gov.il/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=Zone&enDispWho=Examples_River&enZone=River_Restoration& |title=River Restoration |work=Israel Ministry of the Environment |access-date=29 July 2011}}</ref>

Geographically, the region is divided into five sub-regions. The northernmost section lays between the Lebanese border, the [[Western Galilee]] to the east, and the sea. It stretches from [[Rosh HaNikra (kibbutz)|Rosh HaNikra]] in the north and down to [[Haifa]], Israel's third-largest city. It is a fertile region, and off the coast there are many small islands.<ref name="go">{{cite web |url= http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Geographic+Regions/The+coastal+plain.htm |title= The coastal plain |access-date= 26 January 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110906215023/http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist+Information/Discover+Israel/Geographic+Regions/The+coastal+plain.htm |archive-date= 6 September 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Along the [[Mount Carmel]] range is Hof HaCarmel, or the Carmel Coastal Plain. It stretches from the point where Mount Carmel almost touches the sea, at Haifa, and down to [[Nahal Taninim]], a stream that marks the southern limit of the Carmel range. The [[Sharon Plain]] is the next section, running from Nahal Taninim (south of [[Zikhron Ya'akov]]) to [[Tel Aviv]]'s [[Yarkon River]]. This area is Israel's most densely populated. South of this, running to Nahal Shikma, is the Central Coastal Plain, also known as the Western [[Negev]]. The last segment is the Southern Coastal Plain, which extends south around the [[Gaza Strip]]. It is divided into two – in the north, the [[HaBesor Stream|Besor]] region, a [[savanna]]-type area with a relatively large number of communities, and south of it the Agur-[[Halutza]] region, which is very sparsely populated.<ref name="go" />

===Central hills===
[[File:JerusalemMountains.jpg|thumb|[[Judaean Mountains]]]]
Inland (east) of the coastal plain lies the central [[Highland (geography)|highland]] region.<ref name="topog" /> In the north of this region lie the mountains and hills of [[Galilee|Upper Galilee and Lower Galilee]], which are generally {{convert|500|to|700|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in height, although they reach a maximum height of {{convert|1208|m|ft|0|sp=us}} at [[Mount Meron]].<ref name="topog" /> South of the Galilee, in the West Bank, are the [[Samaria]]n Hills with numerous small, fertile valleys rarely reaching the height of {{convert|800|m|ft|0|sp=us}}.<ref name="topog" /> South of Jerusalem, also mainly within the West Bank, are the Judean Hills, including [[Mount Hebron]].<ref name="topog" /> The central highlands average {{convert|610|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in height and reach their highest elevation at [[Har Meron]], at {{convert|1208|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, in Galilee near [[Safed]].<ref name="topog" /> Several valleys cut across the highlands roughly from east to west; the largest is the [[Jezreel Valley]] (also known as the [[Plain of Esdraelon]]), which stretches {{convert|48|km|mi|0|sp=us}} from [[Haifa]] southeast to the valley of the [[Jordan River]], and is {{convert|19|km|mi|0|sp=us}} across at its widest point.<ref name="topog" />

===Jordan Rift Valley===
{{main|Jordan Rift Valley}}
[[File:Yarden 0182.JPG|thumb|Jordan Rift Valley]]
East of the central highlands lies the [[Jordan Rift Valley]], which is a small part of the {{convert|6500|km|mi|0|sp=us}}-long [[Syrian-East African Rift]].<ref name="topog" /> In Israel the Rift Valley is dominated by the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee (an important freshwater source also known as Lake Tiberias and Lake Kinneret), and the [[Dead Sea]].<ref name="topog" /> The [[Jordan River|Jordan]], Israel's largest river ({{convert|322|km|mi|0|sp=us}}), originates in the [[Dan River (Israel)|Dan]], [[Baniyas]], and [[Hasbani]] rivers near [[Hermon|Mount Hermon]] in the [[Anti-Lebanon|Anti-Lebanon Mountains]] and flows south through the drained [[Hulah Valley|Hula Basin]] into the [[freshwater]] Lake Tiberias. Lake Tiberias is {{convert|165|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}} in size and, depending on the season and rainfall, is at about {{convert|213|m|ft|0|sp=us}} below sea level.<ref name="topog" /> With a water capacity estimated at {{convert|3|km3|cumi|2|sp=us}}, it serves as the principal reservoir of the [[National Water Carrier]] (also known as the Kinneret-Negev Conduit).<ref name="topog" /> The Jordan River continues its course from the southern end of Lake Tiberias (forming the boundary between the West Bank and Jordan) to its terminus in the highly saline [[Dead Sea]].<ref name="topog" /> The Dead Sea is {{convert|1020|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}} in size and, at {{convert|420|m|ft|0|sp=us}} below sea level, is the lowest surface point on the earth.<ref name="topog" /> South of the Dead Sea, the Rift Valley continues in the [[Arabah]] (Hebrew "Arava", Arabic "Wadi 'Arabah"), which has no permanent water flow, for {{convert|170|km|mi|0|sp=us}} to the [[Gulf of Eilat]].<ref name="topog" />

===Negev Desert===
{{main|Negev}}
[[File:Israel-2013-Aerial 00-Negev-Makhtesh Ramon.jpg|thumb|[[Makhtesh Ramon]]]]
The [[Negev]] Desert comprises approximately {{convert|12000|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}}, more than half of Israel's total land area.<ref name="topog" /> Geographically it is an extension of the [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai Desert]], forming a rough triangle with its base in the north near [[Beersheba]], the Dead Sea, and the southern Judean Mountains, and it has its apex in the southern tip of the country at [[Eilat]].<ref name="topog" /> Topographically, it parallels the other regions of the country, with lowlands in the west, hills in the central portion, and the Arava valley as its eastern border.<ref name="topog" />

Unique to the Negev region are the craterlike [[makhtesh]]im cirques; [[Makhtesh Ramon]], [[Makhtesh Gadol]] and [[Makhtesh Katan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1486/ | title=Makhteshim Country | publisher=UNESCO | access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref> The Negev is also sub-divided into five different ecological regions: northern, western and central Negev, the high plateau and the Arabah Valley.<ref name="negev">{{cite web | url=http://www.negev.org/About/negev_desert.htm | title=Israel's Negev Desert | access-date=8 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080222220736/http://www.negev.org/About/negev_desert.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 22 February 2008}}</ref> The northern Negev receives {{convert|300|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rain annually and has fairly fertile soils.<ref name="negev" /> The western Negev receives {{convert|250|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rain per year, with light and partially sandy soils.<ref name="negev" /> The central Negev has an annual precipitation of {{convert|200|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and is characterized by impervious soil, allowing minimum penetration of water with greater soil erosion and water runoff.<ref name="negev" /> This can result in rare flash floods during heavy rains as water runs across the surface of the impervious desert soil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geckogo.com/Guide/Israel/Natural-Environment/Climate/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901093540/http://www.geckogo.com/Guide/Israel/Natural-Environment/Climate/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-09-01 |title=Israel Natural Environment |publisher=Geckogo.com }}</ref> The high plateau area of Ramat HaNegev stands between {{convert|370|and|520|m|ft|0|sp=us}} above sea level with extreme temperatures in summer and winter.<ref name="negev" /> The area gets {{convert|100|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rain each year, with inferior and partially salty soils.<ref name="negev" /> The Arabah Valley along the Jordanian border stretches {{convert|180|km|mi|0|sp=us}} from Eilat in the south to the tip of the Dead Sea in the north and is very arid with barely {{convert|50|mm|in|2|sp=us}} of rain annually.<ref name="negev" />

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of Israel}}
[[File:ROSH HANIKRA RH3 ITAMAR GRINBERG IMOT (14301597350).jpg|thumb|[[Rosh HaNikra grottoes|Rosh HaNikra chalk cliff]]]]
Israel is divided east–west by a mountain range running north to south along the coast. [[Jerusalem]] sits on the top of this ridge, east of which lies the Dead Sea [[graben]] which is a [[pull-apart basin]] on the [[Dead Sea Transform]] [[Transform fault|fault]].<ref name="geology">{{cite web | url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/il/Geology.html | title=Geology of Israel | access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref>

The numerous [[limestone]] and [[sandstone]] layers of the Israeli mountains serve as [[aquifer]]s through which water flows from the west flank to the east. Several [[Spring (hydrology)|springs]] have formed along the Dead Sea, each an [[oasis]], most notably the oases at [[Ein Gedi]] and [[Ein Bokek]] ([[Neve Zohar]]) where settlements have developed.<ref name="geology" /> Israel also has a number of areas of [[karst topography]]. Caves in the region have been used for thousands of years as shelter, storage rooms, barns and as places of public gatherings.<ref name="geology" />

The far northern coastline of the country has some [[chalk]] landscapes best seen at [[Rosh HaNikra grottoes|Rosh HaNikra]], a chalk cliff into which a series of [[grotto]]es have been eroded.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/roshhan.htm | title=Rosh HaNikra | publisher=JAFI | access-date=8 April 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517120121/http://www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/roshhan.htm | archive-date=17 May 2008 }}</ref>

===Seismic activity===
{{main|List of earthquakes in the Levant}}

The [[Jordan Rift Valley]] is the result of tectonic movements within the [[Dead Sea Transform]] (DSF) fault system. The DSF forms the [[transform fault|transform boundary]] between the [[African Plate]] to the west and the [[Arabian Plate]] to the east. The Golan Heights and all of Jordan are part of the Arabian Plate, while the Galilee, West Bank, Coastal Plain, and Negev along with the Sinai Peninsula are on the African Plate. This tectonic disposition leads to a relatively high seismic activity in the region.

The entire Jordan Valley segment is thought to have ruptured repeatedly, for instance during the last two major earthquakes along this structure in 749 and [[1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake|1033]]. The deficit in [[Fault (geology)#Slip.2C heave.2C throw|slip]] that has built up since the 1033 event is sufficient to cause an earthquake of {{M|w}}~7.4.<ref name="Ferry">{{cite journal |title=A 48-kyr-long slip rate history for the Jordan Valley segment of the Dead Sea Fault |author1=Ferry M. |author2=Meghraoui M. |author3=Karaki A.A. |author4=Al-Taj M. |author5=Amoush H. |author6=Al-Dhaisat S. |author7=Barjous M. |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |year=2008 |volume=260 |issue=3–4 |pages=394–406 |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.049 |bibcode=2007E&PSL.260..394F  |issn=0012-821X }}</ref>

The most catastrophic earthquakes occurred in 31 BCE, 363, 749, and 1033 CE, that is every ca. 400 years on average.<ref name="MarcoAFTAU">American Friends of the Tel Aviv University, ''Earthquake Experts at Tel Aviv University Turn to History for Guidance'' (4 October 2007). Quote: The major ones were recorded along the Jordan Valley in the years 31 B.C.E., 363 C.E., 749 C.E., and 1033 C.E. "So roughly, we are talking about an interval of every 400 years. If we follow the patterns of nature, a major quake should be expected any time because almost a whole millennium has passed since the last strong earthquake of 1033." (Tel Aviv University Associate Professor Dr. Shmuel (Shmulik) Marco). [http://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?&storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006013914/http://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?&storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3|date=6 October 2016}}</ref> Destructive earthquakes leading to serious loss of life strike about every 80 years.<ref name="IllPreped">Zafrir Renat, ''Israel Is Due, and Ill Prepared, for Major Earthquake'', Haaretz, 15 January 2010. "On average, a destructive earthquake takes place in Israel once every 80 years, causing serious casualties and damage."  [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-is-due-and-ill-prepared-for-a-major-earthquake-1.261497]</ref> While stringent construction regulations are currently in place and recently built structures are earthquake-safe, as of 2007 the majority of the buildings in Israel were older than these regulations and many public buildings as well as 50,000 residential buildings did not meet the new standards and were "expected to collapse" if exposed to a strong quake.<ref name="IllPreped"/> Given the fragile political situation of the Middle East region and the presence there of major holy sites, a quake reaching magnitude 7 on the Richter scale could have dire consequences for world peace.<ref name="MarcoAFTAU"/>

==Rivers and lakes==
{{main|List of rivers of Israel|List of lakes of Israel}}
[[File:Water_Stress,_Top_Countries_(2020).svg|thumb|Israel is the sixteenth most water stressed country in the world.]]
Israel's longest and most famous river is the {{convert|320|km|mi|0|adj=on}} long [[Jordan River|River Jordan]], which rises on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon in the [[Anti-Lebanon Mountains]].<ref name="jordan">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761577321/Jordan_(river).html |title=River Jordan |access-date=9 September 2010 |encyclopedia=Encarta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515220915/http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761577321/Jordan_(river).html |archive-date=15 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The river flows south through the freshwater [[Sea of Galilee]], and from there forms the boundary with the [[Kingdom of Jordan]] for much of its route, eventually emptying into the [[Dead Sea]].<ref name="jordan" /> The northern tributaries to the Jordan are the [[Dan River (Israel)|Dan]], [[Banias River|Banias]], and [[Hasbani river|Hasbani]].<ref name="jordan" /> Only the Dan is within undisputed Israel; the Hasbani flows from [[Lebanon]] and the Banias from territory captured from Syria in the [[Six-Day War]].<ref name="jordan" />

[[File:TiberiasNorthward.jpg|thumb|left|Lake Kinneret]]
The Sea of Galilee (also called the Kinneret) is Israel's largest and most important [[freshwater]] lake, located in the northeast of the country. The pear-shaped lake is {{convert|23|km|mi|0}} long from north to south, with a maximum width of {{convert|13|km|mi|0}} in the north, covering {{convert|166|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}}. The Kinneret lies {{convert|207|m|ft|0|sp=us}} below sea level and reaches depths of {{convert|46|m|ft|0|sp=us}}. In a previous geological [[Series (stratigraphy)|epoch]] the lake was part of a large inland sea which extended from the [[Hula]] marshes in northern Israel to {{convert|64|km|mi|0|sp=us}} south of the Dead Sea. The bed of the lake forms part of the [[Jordan Rift Valley]].<ref name="kinneret">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761576645/Tiberias_Lake.html |title=Lake Tiberias |access-date=8 April 2008 |encyclopedia=Encarta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012193430/http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761576645/Tiberias_Lake.html |archive-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

South of the Kinneret lies the [[Seawater|saltwater]] Dead Sea which forms the border between Israel and Jordan and is {{convert|418|m|ft|0|sp=us}} below sea level, making it the lowest water surface on Earth.<ref name="dead sea">{{cite web|url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556205/Dead_Sea.html |title=Dead Sea |access-date=8 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006212421/http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556205/Dead_Sea.html |archive-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Dead Sea is {{convert|67|km|mi|0|sp=us}} long with a maximum width of {{convert|16|km|mi|0|sp=us}} and also makes up part of the Rift Valley.<ref name="dead sea" /> A peninsula juts out into the lake from the eastern shore, south of which the lake is shallow, less than {{convert|6|m|ft|1|sp=us}} deep. To the north is the lake's greatest depth.<ref name="dead sea" />

There are no navigable, artificial waterways in Israel, although the [[National Water Carrier]], a conduit for drinking water, might be classified as such. The idea of a [[Dead Sea canal (disambiguation)|channel]] connecting the Mediterranean and Dead Seas or the Red and Dead Seas has been discussed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://american.edu/ted/deadsea.htm | title=Dead Sea Canal | access-date=8 April 2008 | archive-date=27 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327054931/http://www.american.edu/TED/deadsea.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Selected elevations==
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 12379 Wadi masha.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mount Tabor]]]]
The following are selected elevations of notable locations, from highest to lowest:<ref>Statistical Abstract of Israel, No. 58, 2007</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location
! Region
! Elevation (feet)
! Elevation (meters)
|-
| [[Mount Hermon]]
| [[Golan Heights]] (Israeli-occupied)
| 7,336&nbsp;ft.
| 2,236 m.
|-
| [[Mount Meron]]
| Upper Galilee
| 3,964&nbsp;ft.
| 1,208 m.
|-
| [[Mount Ramon]]
| Negev
| 3,396&nbsp;ft.
| 1,035 m.
|-
| [[Mount of Olives]]
| East Jerusalem (Israeli-occupied)
| 2,739&nbsp;ft.
| 835 m.
|-
| [[Mount Tabor]]
| Lower Galilee
| 1,930&nbsp;ft.
| 588 m.
|-
| [[Mount Carmel]]
| Haifa
| 1,792&nbsp;ft.
| 546 m.
|-
| [[Dead Sea]]
| Judean Desert
|&nbsp;– 1,368&nbsp;ft.
|&nbsp;– 417 m.
|}

==Climate==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_ISR_1991–2020.svg|thumb|300px|Israel map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification zones]]
[[File:Snow 0466.JPG|thumb|Snow in [[Galilee]]]]
[[File:Ein Avdat Flood 1.JPG|thumb|150px|Flash flood at [[Ein Avdat]]]]
The northern half of Israel has a [[Mediterranean climate]] with long, hot, rainless summers and relatively short, mild to cool, rainy winters ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csa'').<ref name="loc">{{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/israel/36.htm | title=Climate | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress}}</ref> The southern half has hot [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] (''BSh'') and [[Desert climate|hot desert]] (''BWh'') climates. The climate is as such due to Israel's location between the [[Subtropics|subtropical]] aridity of the [[Sahara]] and the [[Arabian]] deserts, and the subtropical humidity of the [[Levant]] and Eastern Mediterranean.<ref name="loc" /> The climate conditions are highly variable within the state and modified locally by altitude, latitude, and the proximity to the Mediterranean.<ref name="loc" />

On average, January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from {{convert|6|to|15|C|F|1}}, and July and August are the hottest months at {{convert|22|to|33|C|F|1}}, on average across the country.<ref name="loc" /> Summers are very humid along the Mediterranean coast but dry in the central highlands, the Rift Valley, and the Negev Desert. In Eilat, a desert city, summer daytime-temperatures are often the highest in the state, at times reaching {{convert|44|to|46|C|F|1}}. More than 70% of the average rainfall in Israel falls between November and March; June through September are usually rainless.<ref name="loc" /> Rainfall is unevenly distributed, significantly lower in the south of the country.<ref name="loc" /> In the extreme south, rainfall averages near {{convert|30|mm|in|2|sp=us}} annually; in the north, average annual rainfall exceeds {{convert|900|mm|in|1|sp=us}}.<ref name="loc" /> Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year, particularly in the Negev Desert. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing [[erosion]] and [[flash flood]]s.<ref name="loc" /> In winter, precipitation often takes the form of [[Snow in Israel|snow]] at the higher elevations of the central highlands, including Jerusalem.<ref name="loc" /> Mount Hermon has seasonal snow which covers all three of its peaks in winter and spring. In rare occasions, snow gets to the northern mountain peaks and only in extremely rare occasions even to the coast. The areas of the country most cultivated are those receiving more than {{convert|300|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rainfall annually, making approximately one-third of the country cultivable.<ref name="loc" />

Thunderstorms and hail are common throughout the rainy season and waterspouts occasionally hit the Mediterranean coast, capable of causing only minor damage. However, [[supercell thunderstorms]] and a true F2 [[tornado]] hit the [[Western Galilee]] in April 2006, causing significant damage and 75 injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3236346,00.html | title='Mini-tornado' sweeps through western Galilee | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=Ynet}}</ref>

Heat waves are frequent. 2010 was the hottest year in the history of Israel with absolute record high in several places in August. The heat became stronger from August when temperatures were considerably above the average. October and November were also dry, and November was almost rainless when it was supposed to be rainy.

===Climate charts of different locations in Israel===
{{Location map+ | Israel | width = | float = right | border = | caption = | alt = | relief = 1 | overlay_image = | places ={{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Tel Aviv]] | label_size = 100 | position = left | background = | mark = | marksize = | link = | lat_deg =32 | lat_min =4 | lat_sec = 34 |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 47 | lon_sec = 0 | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Beit Dagan]] | label_size = 100 | position = right | lat_deg = 32 | lat_min = 0 | lat_sec = 10 |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 49 | lon_sec = 45 | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Jerusalem]] | label_size = 100 | position = bottom | lat_deg = 31 | lat_min = 47 | lat_sec = |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 13 | lon_sec = | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Haifa]] | label_size = 100 | position = left | lat_deg = 32 | lat_min = 49 | lat_sec = |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 59 | lon_sec = | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Safed]] | label_size = 100 | position = left | lat_deg = 32 | lat_min = 57 | lat_sec = 57 |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 29 | lon_sec = 54 | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Beersheba]] | label_size = 100 | position = bottom | lat_deg = 31 | lat_min = 15 | lat_sec = 32 |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 47 | lon_sec = 59 | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Tiberias]] | label_size = 100 | position = right | lat_deg = 32 | lat_min = 47 | lat_sec = 48 |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 35 | lon_min = 32 | lon_sec = 9 | lon_dir = E }}
{{Location map~ | Israel | label = [[Eilat]] | label_size = 100 | position = right | lat_deg = 29 | lat_min = 33 | lat_sec = |  lat_dir = N | lon_deg = 34 | lon_min = 57 | lon_sec = | lon_dir = E }}
}}

{{climate chart
| Tel Aviv
| 9 | 17 | 126.9
| 9.8 | 17.7 | 90.1
| 11.5 | 19.2 | 60.6
| 14.4 | 22.8 | 18.0
| 17.3 | 24.9 | 2.6
| 20.6 | 27.5 | 0
| 23.0 | 29.4 | 0
| 23.7 | 30.2 | 0
| 22.5 | 29.4 | 0.4
| 19.1 | 27.3 | 26.3
| 14.6 | 23.4 | 79.3
| 11.2 | 19.2 | 126.4
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Beit Dagan
| 7.2 | 17.8 | 140.5
| 7.1 | 18.1 | 96.9
| 8.8 | 20.1 | 66.1
| 11.5 | 24.5 | 17.5
| 14.6 | 27.0 | 2.2
| 17.9 | 29.2 | 0
| 20.6 | 30.8 | 0
| 21.2 | 31.2 | 0
| 19.4 | 30.4 | 0.4
| 16.0 | 28.3 | 20.4
| 11.8 | 24.1 | 76.2
| 8.6 | 19.7 | 130.3
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Jerusalem
| 6.4 | 11.8 | 133.2
| 6.4 | 12.6 | 118.3
| 8.4 | 15.4 | 92.7
| 12.6 | 21.5 | 24.5
| 15.7 | 25.3 | 3.2
| 17.8 | 27.6 | 0
| 19.4 | 29.0 | 0
| 19.5 | 29.4 | 0
| 18.6 | 28.2 | 0.3
| 16.6 | 24.7 | 15.4
| 12.3 | 18.8 | 60.8
| 8.4 | 14.0 | 105.7
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Haifa
| 8.9 | 17 | 124.9
| 8.7 | 17.5 | 92.2
| 10.5 | 19.6 | 52.8
| 13.6 | 23.9 | 23.6
| 17.2 | 26.2 | 2.7
| 20.6 | 29.3 | 0
| 23.0 | 31.1 | 0
| 23.6 | 31.4 | 0
| 21.7 | 29.9 | 1.2
| 18.5 | 28.0 | 28.0
| 14.1 | 24.0 | 77.4
| 10.2 | 19.2 | 135.5
| clear = right
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Safed
| 4.5 | 9.4 | 158.8
| 4.3 | 10.1 | 129.7
| 6.3 | 13.3 | 94.9
| 10.6 | 19.5 | 43.1
| 14.3 | 25.0 | 5.7
| 17.0 | 28.3 | 0
| 18.8 | 29.8 | 0
| 18.8 | 29.8 | 0
| 17.7 | 28.1 | 1.5
| 15.1 | 23.7 | 24.5
| 10.3 | 16.7 | 85.5
| 6.4 | 11.5 | 135.5
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Beersheba
| 7.5 | 16.7 | 49.6
| 7.6 | 17.5 | 40.4
| 9.3 | 20.1 | 30.7
| 12.7 | 25.8 | 12.9
| 15.4 | 29.0 | 2.7
| 18.4 | 31.3 | 0
| 20.5 | 32.7 | 0
| 20.9 | 32.8 | 0
| 19.5 | 31.3 | 0.4
| 16.7 | 28.5 | 5.8
| 12.6 | 23.5 | 19.7
| 8.9 | 18.8 | 41.9
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Tiberias
| 9.5 | 18.1 | 90.3
| 9.2 | 19.2 | 72.6
| 10.8 | 22.5 | 57.2
| 14.3 | 28.3 | 20.0
| 17.6 | 33.1 | 4.0
| 20.4 | 35.9 | 0
| 22.8 | 37.5 | 0
| 23.3 | 37.6 | 0
| 21.8 | 36.1 | 0.6
| 19.1 | 32.0 | 13.8
| 15.1 | 25.6 | 50.1
| 11.3 | 20.1 | 80.5
| clear = none
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{climate chart
| Eilat
| 9.6 | 20.8 | 3.5
| 10.6 | 22.1 | 5.8
| 13.6 | 25.5 | 3.7
| 17.8 | 31.1 | 1.7
| 21.5 | 35.4 | 1
| 24.2 | 38.7 | 0
| 25.9 | 39.9 | 0
| 26.2 | 39.8 | 0
| 24.5 | 37.3 | 0
| 21.0 | 33.0 | 3.5
| 15.5 | 27.2 | 3.5
| 11.2 | 22.3 | 6.0
| clear = right
| float = left
| source = Israel Meteorological Service
}}
{{clear}}

==Natural resources==
{{see also|Natural gas in Israel}}
Unlike much of the Middle East which is rich in lucrative [[crude oil]], Israel has limited natural resources. These include copper, [[phosphates]], [[bromide]], [[potash]], [[clay]], [[sand]], [[sulfur]], [[Bitumen|asphalt]], and [[manganese]].<ref name="cia" /> Small amounts of natural gas and [[crude oil]] are present, often too little to merit commercial extraction.<ref name="cia" /> In 2009, significant reserves of natural gas were discovered at the [[Tamar gas field|Tamar 1 offshore drilling]] site, 90 kilometers west of Haifa. It is the largest natural gas reserve ever discovered in Israel.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bar |first=Avi |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-s-largest-ever-reserve-of-natural-gas-discovered-off-haifa-coast-1.268364 |title=Israel's largest-ever reserve of natural gas discovered off Haifa coast |work=Haaretz |date=18 January 2009}}</ref>

==Environmental concerns==
{{main|Environmental issues in Israel}}
[[File:Ashdod-dune01.jpg|thumb|[[Ashdod]] dunes]]
[[File:Park Kishon, Haifa 043.JPG|thumb|Formerly polluted [[Kishon River]] after clean-up, 2010]]
Israel has a large number of environmental concerns ranging from natural hazards to man-made issues both resulting from ancient times to modern development. Natural hazards facing the country include [[Dust storm|sandstorms]] which sometimes occur during spring in the desert south, droughts which are usually concentrated in summer months, [[flash flood]]s which create great danger in the deserts due to their lack of notice, and regular earthquakes, most of which are small, although there is a constant risk due to Israel's location along the [[Jordan Rift Valley]].<ref name="cia" /> Current environmental concerns include the lack of [[arable land]] and natural fresh water resources. Whilst measures have been taken to irrigate and grow in the desert, the amount of water needed here poses issues. [[Desertification]] is also a risk possible on the desert fringe, whilst air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions and [[groundwater pollution]] from industrial and domestic waste are also issues facing the country.<ref name="cia" /> Furthermore, the effects of the use of [[Chemical fertilizers#Environmental effects of fertilizer use|chemical fertilizers]], and [[pesticide]]s are issues facing the country.<ref name="cia" />
Israel has signed many international environmental agreements and is party to:<ref name="cia" />
* [[Convention on Biological Diversity]]
* [[UNFCCC]]&nbsp;– Climate Change
* [[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification]]
* [[Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna]]
* Hazardous Wastes
* [[Nuclear Test Ban]]
* [[Montreal Protocol]]&nbsp;– Ozone Layer Protection
* [[MARPOL 73/78]]&nbsp;– Ship Pollution
* [[Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat]]

Signed but not ratified:
* [[Kyoto Protocol]]
* [[Marine Life Conservation]]

==Rural settlements==
[[File:Lotan.jpg|thumb|View of [[Kibbutz Lotan]]]]
Israel's rural space includes several unique kinds of settlements, notably the [[moshav]] and the [[kibbutz]].<ref name="rural">{{cite web | url=http://mama.indstate.edu/users/gejdg/rural.pdf | title=Rural Settlement Geography of Israel | access-date=7 April 2008 | publisher=Indiana State University | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407043121/http://mama.indstate.edu/users/gejdg/rural.pdf | archive-date=7 April 2008 }}</ref> Originally these were collective and cooperative settlements respectively.<ref name="rural" /> Over time, the degree of cooperation in these settlements has decreased and in several of them the cooperative structure has been dismantled altogether.<ref name="rural" /> All rural settlements and many small towns (some of which are dubbed "rurban settlements") are incorporated in regional councils. Land use in Israel is 17% arable land, 4% permanent crops, and 79% other uses.<ref name="cia" /> As of 2003 {{convert|1940|km2|sqmi|0|sp=us}} were irrigated.<ref name="cia" />

There are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the [[Golan Heights]], and 29 in [[East Jerusalem]].<ref name="cia" />

==Islands==
Israel has the [[Rosh Hanikra Islands]] and the [[Achziv Islands]] within its territorial waters. The Israeli government plans to build [[artificial island]]s off the coast to house an airport, a seaport, a desalination plant, a power plant, and a military testing base, as an answer to Israel's lack of space.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4243546,00.html |title=Israel considers building artificial islands – Israel Environment |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynet |date=20 June 1995|last1=Frenkel |first1=Billie }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ben |first=Ilan |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/short-on-space-israel-mulls-constructing-islands/ |title=Short on space, Israel looks to artificial islands |work=The Times of Israel |date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

==Human geography==
{{further|List of cities in Israel|Districts of Israel}}
{{Largest cities of Israel}}
[[File:Israel at night.jpg|thumb|upright|Satellite image of Israel at night]]
As of 2013, the population of Israel is 8 million, 6,015,000 of them Jewish.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4326257,00.html |title=CBS: Israel home to 8 Million citizens |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynet |date=30 December 2012 |last1=Druckman |first1=Yaron }}</ref>

For statistical purposes, the country has three [[metropolitan area]]s; [[Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area|Gush Dan]]-Tel Aviv (population 3,150,000), [[Haifa metropolitan area|Haifa]] (population 996,000), and [[Beersheba metropolitan area|Beersheba]] (population 531,600).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_15.pdf |title=Localities, Population, and Density |access-date=2 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208072052/http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_15.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2012 }}</ref> Some argue that [[Jerusalem]], Israel's largest city with a population of 763,600,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/exhibit1/theme7.html | title=Jerusalem: From Town to Metropolis | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=University of Southern Maine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080307180639/http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/exhibit1/theme7.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 7 March 2008}}</ref> and [[Nazareth]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fips.org.il/fips/site/p_publications/item_en.asp?doc=pap&iss=gov&iid=500&sid=401 | title=Initiated Development in the Nazareth Region | access-date=8 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071112165815/http://www.fips.org.il/fips/site/p_publications/item_en.asp?doc=pap&iss=gov&iid=500&sid=401 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 12 November 2007}}</ref> should also be classified as metropolitan areas. In total, Israel has 74 [[City council (Israel)|cities]], 14 of which have populations of over 100,000. Other forms of [[local government in Israel]] are [[local council (Israel)|local councils]] of which there are 144 governing small municipalities generally over 2,000 in population,<ref name="Mahler">{{cite book | last=Mahler |first=Gregory S. |title=Politics and Government in Israel: The Maturation of a Modern State | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | page=229}}</ref><ref name="first">{{cite book | last=Troen | first=Selwyn Ilan |author2=Noah Lucas | title=Israel: The First Decade of Independence | publisher=SUNY Press | page=496}}</ref> and [[Regional council (Israel)|regional councils]] of which there are 53, governing a group of small communities over a relatively large geographical area.<ref name="Mahler" /><ref name="women">{{cite book | last=Herzog | first=Hanna | title=Gendering Politics: Women in Israel | page=22 | publisher=University of Michigan Press }}</ref>

Israel's population is diverse demographically; 76% Jewish, 20% [[Israeli Arab|Arab]], and 4% unaffiliated.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st02_01&CYear=2007 | title=Population by population group | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=Israel CBS}}</ref> In terms of religion, 76% are Jewish, 16% Muslim, 2% Christian, 2% [[Druze]], and 4% are unclassified by choice.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st02_01&CYear=2007 | title=Population by religion | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=Israel CBS}}</ref> 8% of Israeli Jews are [[haredi]]; 9% are "religious", 12% "religious-traditionalists", 27% are "non-religious traditionalists", and 43% are "secular".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/hodaot2007n/19_07_104b.doc | title=Social Survey | year=2006 | access-date=8 April 2008 | publisher=Israel CBS | language=he | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407042911/http://www.cbs.gov.il/hodaot2007n/19_07_104b.doc | archive-date=7 April 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Other small, but notable groups in Israel, include [[Circassians]] of whom there are approximately 3,000 living mostly in two northern villages, 2,500 [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]], and 5,000 [[Armenians]] predominantly in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kafkas.org.tr/english/diaspora/israil.html | title=Circassians in Israel | access-date=8 April 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314022637/http://www.kafkas.org.tr/english/diaspora/israil.html | archive-date=14 March 2008 }}</ref>

==Overshoot index==
Israel is ranked [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density#Main table|34th]] in the world in terms of [[Demographics of Israel|population]] density with, as noted, a climate of long, hot, rainless summers and relatively short, cool, rainy winters.<ref name="loc" /> The [[Population Matters]] 2011 [[Overshoot (population)|overshoot]] index<ref>{{cite web|title=Overshoot Index 2011 |url=https://populationmatters.org/documents/overshoot_index_2011.pdf |publisher=Population Matters |access-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720034201/http://www.populationmatters.org/documents/overshoot_index_2011.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2013 }}</ref> ranked Israel as the third most dependent region in the World after [[Singapore]] and [[Kuwait]].

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|Israel}}
* [[Archaeology of Israel]]
* [[Kurkar]]
* [[Land of Israel]]
* [[List of endemic flora of Israel]]
* [[Cartography of Palestine|Historical maps of Israel]]
* [[National parks and nature reserves of Israel]]
* [[Outline of Israel]]
* [[Tourism in Israel]]
* [[Wildlife of Israel]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Wikiatlas|Israel}}
*{{OSM relation|1473946|Israel}}
*[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/land/pages/the%20land-%20geography%20and%20climate.aspx Geography and Climate] at the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] website
*[http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Pages/Geography%20and%20Nature.aspx Geography and Nature] at the [[Ministry of Tourism (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Tourism]] website

{{Geography of Israel}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{Israel topics}}

[[Category:Geography of Israel| ]]
[[Category:Geography of Palestine (region)|*]]