Israel's Nature Parks Overwhelmed by Weekend Tourist Surge

Several popular nature reserves and parks in Israel were temporarily closed to new visitors on Saturday, November 14, due to an overwhelming influx of tourists. The Nature and Parks Authority reported that approximately 80,000 people had visited its sites by 3:00 PM. Among the locations forced to halt entry were Gesher HaZiv in the Hefer Valley, the Hula Nature Reserve between Tiberias and Kiryat Shmona, and Nahal Taninim near Zichron Yaakov. Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea and the national parks of Caesarea and Ashkelon also experienced high attendance. Additionally, the Yarkon National Park near Petah Tikva, also known as Tel Afek, was crowded, distinct from the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. Ein Gedi, near the kibbutz of the same name, and Ein Afek near Kiryat Bialik saw significant numbers of visitors. Over the preceding night, around 2,500 people stayed in the Authority's campsites, with many choosing southern locations like Khan Be'erot, Makhtesh Ramon, Metzada-Ma'arav, and Mamshit, often as part of weekend trips to Eilat. The reported figure of 80,000 visitors is preliminary and only includes sites managed by the Authority, excluding beaches, forests, and other areas not under its jurisdiction, suggesting the actual number of people enjoying nature could be higher.