The State of Israel is a country in west Asia located on the southeast edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Israel is Jerusalem though the sovereignty of the country is not always recognized internationally. A parliamentary democracy, Israel is considered the only Jewish state in the whole world even though its citizens come from different cultures and backgrounds.

History

In the Six Day War of 1967, the west bank of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordon, the Golan Heights of Syria, Egypt occupied Gaza Strip, and Sinai region from Egypt was captured by Israel. By 1982, Israel had withdrawn all troops from the Sinai and by 2005 all troops were likewise withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.

The northern border of Israel is shared with Lebanon, the eastern with Syria and Jordan, and Egypt in the southwest. The western edge is a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Eilat in the south.

Local Features

The total land area of Israel, not counting the territories that it has captured since 1967, is estimated at 8,019 square miles. The total are under Israeli law, including the captured areas of Jerusalem and Golan heights is 8,550 square miles.

Climate

The climate of the coastal areas is obviously different from the mountainous regions. This is particularly true in winter. Higher areas like Golan Heights can become really cold and prone to snowfall. Even Jerusalem will get and occasional snowing every couple of years. The coastal regions are typically Mediterranean in nature with rainy winters and dry summers.

Places to visit

The Terraces of the Bahá'í Faith are also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa and are one of the most visited places in Israel. The eighteen terraces represent the first eighteen disciples designated as "Letter of the Living". Nine concentric circles make up the eighteen terraces. Nineteen is an important number in both the Bahá'í and Bábí religions.

The Dead Sea is a constant attraction for visitors from around the world. It was a place of refuge for King David and the world's first health resort.

The city of Eilat in the south has attractions like the Coral World Underwater Observatory, the Corel Reserve, The "What's Up" Observatory, and scuba diving opportunities at Dolphin Reef.

Masada is the name given to the site containing some old palaces and fortifications located on top of an isolated rock plateau that make and impressive sight for all visitors to behold.