Editing Mitzpe Ramon

{{short description|Local council in Israel}}
 {{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Mitzpe Ramon
| native_name            = {{Hlist | {{Lang|he|{{Script/Hebrew|מִצְפֵּה רָמוֹן}}|rtl=yes}} | {{Lang|ar|{{lang|ar|متسبي رمون}}|rtl=yes}} }}
| settlement_type        = [[Local council (Israel)|Local council]] 
| translit_lang1         = Hebrew
| translit_lang1_type1   = [[ISO 259]]
| translit_lang1_info1   = Miçpe Ramon
| image_skyline          = Ramon 140222 Mitzpe Ramon.jpg
| image_caption          = View of Mitzpe Ramon from Har Gamal, 2022
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map            = Israel negev mt#Israel
| pushpin_mapsize        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|30|36|46|N|34|48|14|E|region:IL|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name       = 
{{flag|Israel}}
| subdivision_type1      = 
| subdivision_name1      = 
| subdivision_type2      = [[Districts of Israel|District]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Southern District (Israel)|Southern]]
| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       = 1951
| leader_title           = Head of Municipality
| leader_name            = Elia Winter<ref name="Local_elections2024_marker">{{cite journal |author = |url = https://www.themarker.com/news/2024-02-28/ty-article-static/0000018d-bb60-dd5e-a59d-fff234410000 |title = תוצאות הבחירות המקומיות 2024 |language = he |journal = TheMarker |date =2024-03-03 |access-date = 2024-05-07 }}</ref>
| unit_pref              = dunam
| area_total_dunam       = {{formatnum:62875|R}}
| population_footnotes   = {{Israel populations|reference}}
| population_total       = {{Israel populations|Mizpe Ramon}}
| population_as_of       = {{Israel populations|Year}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| elevation_m            = 839
| blank_name_sec1        = Name meaning
| blank_info_sec1        = Ramon Lookout
| website                = {{url|mitzpe-ramon.muni.il}}
}}
'''Mitzpe Ramon''' ({{langx|he|מִצְפֵּה רָמוֹן}}, Ramon Lookout; {{langx|ar|متسبي رمون}}) is a [[Local council (Israel)|local council]] in the [[Negev]] desert of [[Southern District (Israel)|southern]] [[Israel]]. It is situated on the northern ridge at an elevation of 860&nbsp;meters (2,800&nbsp;feet) overlooking the world's largest erosion [[cirque]], known as the [[Makhtesh Ramon]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/07/travel/the-list-said-go-to-batumi-and-eilat-but-i-got-other-ideas.html The list said go to Batumi and Eilat but I got other ideas], ''[[New York Times]]''</ref> In {{Israel populations|Year}} it had a population of {{Israel populations|Mizpe Ramon}}.{{Israel populations|reference}}

==History==
[[File:Mitzpe 1957.jpg|thumb|left|Mitzpe Ramon in 1957]]
Mitzpe Ramon was founded in 1951 as a camp for the workers building [[Highway 40 (Israel)|Highway 40]].<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/the-magic-of-mitzpe-ramon-688904 The magic of Mitzpe Ramon], ''[[Jerusalem Post]]''</ref> The town's first permanent residents, several young families from Kibbutz [[Re'im]] and other parts of Israel began settling there in 1956. After five years, the town was home to 370 residents including 160 children, most of them veteran Israelis. There were also 180 housing units to absorb new immigrants<ref>{{Cite web |title=חמש שנים למצפה־רמון⁩ {{!}} ⁨דבר⁩ {{!}} 16 יוני 1961 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית |url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1961/06/16/01/article/140 |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=www.nli.org.il |language=he}}</ref> They were joined by immigrants from North Africa, Romania, and India in the 1960s, and it became the southernmost of the Negev's [[development town]]s.

Conditions in the early years were harsh, with limited food supplies and practically no modern-day amenities. Ice blocks and provisions were delivered once a week by a supply truck. There was a single school with one classroom for all ages. The homes of the first settlers were prefabricated asbestos barracks. Later, rows of small attached stone houses were built and after that, apartment buildings, beginning in the early 1960s.

On April 29, 1964, a [[Nord Noratlas|Nord 2501D Noratlas]] (4X-FAD/044) of the [[Israeli Air Force|IAF]] crashed into a mountain near Mitzpe Ramon, killing all nine on board, including pilots Hagay Gilboa and Shlomo Tzlil. The crash is currently Israel's deadliest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Nord 2501D Noratlas 4X-FAD/044 Mitzpe Ramon |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19640429-1 |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref>

In 1972, Mitzpe Ramon had a population of about 1,400 people living in 300 households. The town further grew after [[Ramon Airbase]] was completed in 1982. In 1988, the town had a population of about 3,000, and it experienced more significant population growth when it absorbed Soviet immigrants during the [[1990s post-Soviet aliyah]].

== Geology and climate ==
[[Ramon Crater]], known as a ''[[makhtesh]]'' Ramon, is 38&nbsp;km long, 6&nbsp;km wide and 450 meters deep.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1486/ Makhteshim Country], [[UNESCO]]</ref>
[[File:MakhteshRamonMar262022 01.jpg|thumb|[[Makhtesh Ramon]]|alt=Makhtesh Ramon|275x275px]]
Mitzpe Ramon's climate borders between [[hot desert climate]] and [[cold desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: BWh/BWk), characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. There are moderate to strong winds all year long, caused by its location above the crater, which make Mitzpe Ramon feel much colder than it really is. Precipitation is scarce, concentrated around the winter months, with an annual precipitation amount of roughly {{convert|70|mm}}. Snowfall occurs on average once in a couple of years. Night frost occurs almost every winter.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location= Mitzpe Ramon (Temperature: 1987–2010, Precipitation: 1980–2010)
|metric first= yes
|single line= yes
|Jan record high C= 28.0
|Feb record high C= 29.1
|Mar record high C= 33.5
|Apr record high C= 36.4
|May record high C= 39.6
|Jun record high C= 40.9
|Jul record high C= 39.6
|Aug record high C= 39.2
|Sep record high C= 37.8
|Oct record high C= 37.4
|Nov record high C= 31.1
|Dec record high C= 29.0
|Jan avg record high C= 20.4
|Feb avg record high C= 23.1
|Mar avg record high C= 27.4 
|Apr avg record high C= 33.3
|May avg record high C= 35.2
|Jun avg record high C= 35.8
|Jul avg record high C= 36.0
|Aug avg record high C= 34.8
|Sep avg record high C= 34.2
|Oct avg record high C= 32.4
|Nov avg record high C= 26.9
|Dec avg record high C= 22.4
|Jan high C= 13.3
|Feb high C= 14.6
|Mar high C= 18.2
|Apr high C= 22.9
|May high C= 26.9
|Jun high C= 29.3
|Jul high C= 31.0
|Aug high C= 30.7
|Sep high C= 28.4
|Oct high C= 25.1
|Nov high C= 19.9
|Dec high C= 15.5
|year high C= 
|Jan mean C= 9.9
|Feb mean C= 10.8
|Mar mean C= 13.5
|Apr mean C= 17.4
|May mean C= 21.2
|Jun mean C= 23.4
|Jul mean C= 25.4
|Aug mean C= 25.0
|Sep mean C= 23.0
|Oct mean C= 20.3
|Nov mean C= 16.0
|Dec mean C= 12.1
|year mean C= 
|Jan low C= 6.6
|Feb low C= 6.9
|Mar low C= 8.8
|Apr low C= 11.8
|May low C= 15.4
|Jun low C= 17.6
|Jul low C= 19.7
|Aug low C= 19.3
|Sep low C= 17.6
|Oct low C= 15.5
|Nov low C= 12.2
|Dec low C= 8.7
|year low C= 
|Jan avg record low C= 2.0
|Feb avg record low C= 2.3
|Mar avg record low C= 3.6
|Apr avg record low C= 5.9
|May avg record low C= 9.5
|Jun avg record low C= 12.7
|Jul avg record low C= 15.7
|Aug avg record low C= 15.9
|Sep avg record low C= 14.7
|Oct avg record low C= 11.4
|Nov avg record low C= 7.7
|Dec avg record low C= 4.2
|Jan record low C= -4.0
|Feb record low C= -3.0
|Mar record low C= -1.0
|Apr record low C= -0.8
|May record low C= 6.0
|Jun record low C= 10.2
|Jul record low C= 13.0
|Aug record low C= 14.0
|Sep record low C= 11.5
|Oct record low C= 9.0
|Nov record low C= 2.6
|Dec record low C= -0.5
|Jan rain mm= 19
|Feb rain mm= 13
|Mar rain mm= 11
|Apr rain mm= 3
|May rain mm= 1.5
|Jun rain mm= 0
|Jul rain mm= 0
|Aug rain mm= 0
|Sep rain mm= 0.1
|Oct rain mm= 4
|Nov rain mm= 6
|Dec rain mm= 12
|unit rain days=0.1 mm
|Jan rain days= 6.0
|Feb rain days= 4.9
|Mar rain days= 4.1
|Apr rain days= 1.7
|May rain days= 0.5
|Jun rain days= 0
|Jul rain days= 0
|Aug rain days= 0
|Sep rain days= 0.1
|Oct rain days= 0.9
|Nov rain days= 2.6
|Dec rain days= 4.6
|source 1= ''Israel Meteorological Service''<ref name="ims">{{cite web|url=http://ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/LongTermInfo|title=Averages and Records for Tel Aviv (Precipitation, Temperature and Records written in the page)|publisher=Israel Meteorological Service |access-date=1 August 2010}}{{in lang|he}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/TopClimetIsrael |title=Extremes for Tel Aviv [Records of February and May]|publisher=Israel Meteorological Service |access-date=2 August 2015}}{{in lang|he}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/ClimaticAtlas/TempNormals.htm|title=Temperature average|publisher=Israel Meteorological Service |access-date=8 December 2011}}{{in lang|he}}</ref><ref name="Precipitation average">{{cite web
|url=http://www.ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/ClimaticAtlas/RainNormals.htm |title=Precipitation average |access-date=12 July 2011}}{{in lang|he}}</ref>
}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Mizpe Ramon.jpg|thumb|Mitzpe Ramon street scene|alt=Mitzpe Ramon street scene|border|275x275px]]
The development of Mitzpe Ramon was adversely affected by the opening of [[Route 90 (Israel)|Route 90]] in the late 1960s. After the inauguration of this highway, traffic to and from Eilat bypassed Mitzpe Ramon almost entirely. However, growing interest in [[ecotourism]], Jeep trekking (access to Nabatean ruins), mountain biking and hiking, [[Amateur astronomy|stargazing]] and the upgrading of [[Route 40 (Israel)|Route 40]], which is considered a more scenic route to Eilat, have improved the economy.

Jerusalem Marble, one of a few major suppliers and overseas exporters of [[Jerusalem stone]] (established in 1923), inaugurated a state-of-the-art  factory in Mitzpe Ramon in January 2000.<ref>[http://www.stoneworld.com/Archives/0e4d29fd9e5f7010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0 Supplying the world with Jerusalem stone]</ref> Jerusalem Stone is exported globally.

Mitzpe Ramon has six hotels and dozens of [[bed and breakfast]] establishments. In 2011, the [[Isrotel]] hotel chain opened a luxury hotel, the Beresheet Hotel, in Mitzpe Ramon.<ref name="haaretz-canyon" />

The Tourism Ministry allocated NIS 9.5 million for infrastructure development in Mitzpe Ramon, and the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee financed the construction of a landing strip for light aircraft.<ref name="haaretz-canyon" /> In December 2013, a [[Las Vegas]]-style [[Casino]] was planned for the town.<ref>[http://israel21c.org/israel-in-the-spotlight/vegas-in-the-negev/ Vegas in the Negev?]</ref>

== Local government ==
The previous mayor, Flora Shoshan, sister of former Israeli defense minister [[Amir Peretz]] and wife of the former mayor, Sami Shoshan,<ref>{{cite web |author=Azoulay, Yuval |title=Mitzpeh Ramon's Embattled Mayor Pins Hopes on Interior Ministry |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/918247.html |access-date=2008-10-25 |work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref> was voted out on October 23, 2013, and replaced by Roni Marom, in a landslide victory for Marom.

== Music and culture ==
The Mitzpe Ramon Jazz Club hosts musical ensembles on the weekend. On weekdays, it operates as a music school. 'Me'ever', a hostel and event space, is in the artist quarter of Mitzpe Ramon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meeverland |url=http://www.meeverland.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109184700/http://www.meeverland.com/ |archive-date=2017-01-09 |access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:Mitzpe Ramon view.jpg|View of the town
File:MitzpeRamon090109.jpg|Panorama of Mitzpe Ramon
File:CamelHillMitzpeRamonMar262022 02.jpg|Camel Mountain, Mitzpe Ramon, [[Makhtesh Ramon]]
File:CamelHillMitzpeRamonMar262022 03.jpg|Camel Mountain, Mitzpe Ramon, [[Makhtesh Ramon]]
File:HarHanegevFieldSchoolMar262022 01.jpg|Har Hanegev [[Field School (Israel)|Field School]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Geography of Israel]]
*[[Wildlife of Israel]]
*[[Ramon Airbase]]
*[[Wise Observatory]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="haaretz-canyon">[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/israel-s-grand-canyon-town-struggles-to-shake-off-sand-1.411479 Israel's Grand Canyon Town Struggles to Shake Off Sand], [[Haaretz]]</ref>
}}

== External links ==
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
*[http://www.mitzpe-ramon.muni.il Mitzpe Ramon Local Council] (Hebrew)
*[http://www.3disrael.com/mitzpe_ramon Mitzpe Ramon High resolution virtual tours of the crater] (English)
*[http://www.astronomyisrael.com Astronomy Israel] (English)

{{Southern District (Israel)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Development towns]]
[[Category:Local councils in Southern District (Israel)]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1951]]