Mount Carmel: description, history, attractions and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

The Carmel mountain range cuts into the Mediterranean Sea, forming the bay of the same name from the side of Haifa, and at its western tip almost sheerly breaks into the sea. The slopes are densely built up with urban areas and woodlands. On Carmel, as in all of Israel, there are many historical, Old Testament and modern places where tourists seek to get. What awaits an inquisitive sightseer, pilgrim and just a curious guest of the country?

Description

Mount Carmel is located in the northwestern part of Israel. It is part of the mountain range of the same name. The name translates as "God's vineyard". Once upon a time, a vine really grew on its slopes, destroyed by Muslims during the period of the Arab invasion. The maximum height of the ridge reaches 546 meters above sea level.

Mount Carmel, although it is a historical place, is quite inhabited - on one of the peaks a television tower has been installed and operates, serving the city of Haifa, the second largest in Israel. Anotherat the top is one of the best technical universities in the world - Technion. There is a lighthouse on the same mountain. Some of the slopes are occupied by residential areas of Haifa. Mostly we althy citizens of the country settle here.

Nature Reserve

The slopes of Carmel are covered with forests. A significant part of the vegetation is represented by conifers, oaks, oil and pistachio trees. In the spring there is an active flowering of perennial grasses and bulbous plants, the mountain is covered with a bright carpet of primroses. The main types of rock that make up the mountain are limestone and chalk. Over thousands of years, caves were formed in them, where traces of a man were found dating back to 45-60 millennium BC.

Most of the legends of Mount Carmel are associated with the life of the prophet Elijah, the mention of him is in the Bible. He lived in one of the caves and is equally revered by both Christians and Jews. The path of pilgrims to it does not dry up even today.

Mount Carmel is part of the Nahal Mearot National Reserve, where, in addition to the rich flora, local fauna is widely represented - Mediterranean foxes, wild boars, deer, jackals, porcupines, etc. Animals feel like masters on this land and often wander into residential areas, spread out at the foot of the mountain of the city of Haifa. Walking, hiking and cycling trails are laid in the forest park zone of the reserve, places for recreation and camping are equipped.

A Brief History

Mount Carmel, especially in the part where the Nahal Mearot Reserve is located, is replete with karstcaves. Four of them are major attractions and popular tourist sites. The caves of Tanur, Gamal, Nahal, Skhul are considered the most ancient of the now known places of residence of primitive communities of people. Scientists are sure that the settlements found in them date back to about 500,000 years BC.

Mount Carmel and its caves have long been used by people for housing. On the western slope of the mountain, in the area of the city of Zikhron Yaakov, there are the Tabun and Schil caves. During the excavations carried out in the period from 1929 to 1934, fossil remains of ancient representatives of mankind, animal bones and tools made of stone were found in them. Scientists believe that the remains belong to people who lived in this area about 40-50 thousand years ago.

Archaeologists continue their research, suggesting that mixed colonies consisting of representatives of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals settled in the caves. Findings made in caves serve as confirmation of this. They also pushed archaeologists and historians to another theory - experts believe that there was another subspecies of man, but there is no fundamental evidence for this yet.

In addition to the remains of primitive people in the caves of Mount Carmel, traces of their activities were found - a few beads. According to scientists, shells with drilled holes were created more than a hundred thousand years ago, which indicates the skills of the first people and the presence of primitive tools for fairly fine work.

Cave of Prophet Elijah

MountainCarmel and its attractions attract a constant flow of tourists. One of the most famous biblical stories is connected with the prophet Elijah. The biography of the saint is given in the Old Testament, where it is said that he challenged the prophets of Baal and confounded their religion with an effective prayer to the true god. According to legend, the event took place at the highest point of the mountain, called Mukhrara.

Mount Carmel gave its name to the order of Carmelites created in the 12th century. On the site of the mountain, where once was the abode of the prophet Elijah, today is the Carmelite monastery Stella Maris. Its activities resumed in the 19th century. According to some reports, the monastery was here in the early centuries of Christianity, founded by Empress Elena herself. She was later lost. Archaeological excavations confirm the fact that there used to be a monastery here.

Carmelite Monastery

Today everyone can visit the cave of the prophet Elijah. It is small in size. There is a legend that the Holy Family stopped there on their way from Egypt to Nazareth. A temple in the form of a cross was built above the cave, the altar of which is composed of 12 stones. It is believed that the same was installed in the cave of the prophet.

The Mount Carmel cave complex was once home to 100 prophets fleeing the wrath of Queen Jezebel. Their salvation is described in 1 Kings. It says that Obadiah hid them in the caves, dividing them into two groups of 50 people, and “fed them with bread and water” until the trouble was over.

Cableroad

The Carmelite Monastery on Mount Carmel is the spiritual center of the entire order. Most of its members were French by origin. Therefore, this part of the mountain received a second name - French Carmel.

Opposite the current monastery is the top station of the only cable car in Israel and an observation deck. From here you can admire a breathtaking vista overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea. The descent on the cable car leads to the beaches of Bat Galim.

Gardens

Description of Mount Carmel and its sights can take more than one hour. But there is one pearl that no tourist passes by. On the slopes of the mountain there are terraced gardens - "Bahai". Nineteen terraces are planted with amazing rare plants. Cacti grow here, rare shrubs and trees bloom, silvery olives rise. Fountains are scattered throughout the territory.

The Baha'i Gardens are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This oasis is built around the shrine of the Báb, the founder of the relatively new Bahai religion, which is about 150 years old. The essence of the Baha'i belief is the trinity of man, God and religion.

Supporters recognize the importance of education, scientific and technological progress, strive for harmony and beauty. These views formed the basis for the idea of creating gardens, the embodiment of which can be seen on the slopes of Mount Carmel.

Zoo

On the territory of the Mount Carmel Reserve is locatededucational zoo designed for school activities. After the renovation in 2002, it became much more comfortable for animals and visitors. Improved infrastructure has made this part of the mountain one of the most popular routes for children and adults.

The number of unique animals in the park has increased, their conditions have improved. A large number of additional entertainment appeared for visitors - an amusement park, playgrounds and recreation areas. In addition, a small part of the zoo is allocated for communication with animals, where they can be stroked and fed with the permission of the keepers.

The shortest subway

The world's shortest subway runs in Mount Carmel. Its length is only two kilometers. Stops are made at six stations. The carriages and the subway device itself are more like a hybrid of the subway and funicular. The rolling stock consists of two trains moving on a single track towards each other. In the middle, the path splits into two tracks.

Metro serves one district of Haifa - Adar. This is the first Jewish quarter, the construction of which began in 1909 by the German architect Kaufmann. In this area there is a theater, Haifa City Hall, Bahai Gardens and some other administrative centers. The highest metro station is located at the top of Mount Carmel, and the end point of the route is in the Lower City.