Tourism

Life in Israel __ Tourism __ Top main places tourists visit in Israel are Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, the Dead Sea and Masada. Jerusalem is one of the most popular sites visited in Israel. 3.5 million Tourists arrive to see the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is the biggest city in Israel and one of the oldest cities in the world. It attracts tourists because of the traditions and history that is behind the city. While in Jerusalem one of the known sites that are visited the most is the western wall. Jerusalem is the holy city to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Gush Etzion is located south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Gush Etzion consists of 22 settlements with a population of 70,000. Settlement include: Kfar Etzion, Tekoa, Alon Shvut, Neveh Daniel and Elazar. Gush Etzion has many attractions that are suitable for all ages. Alon Shvut has a winery and swimming pool, and Kfar Etzion has a museum about the history of Kfar etzion. Elazar has an animal farm, and in Efrat there are mud caves which are part of the ancient water aqueduct system that brought water to Jerusalem. The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordering Jordan. It is 423 meters (1,388 ft) below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth 's surface. The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts, and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products. People also use the salt and the minerals from the Dead Sea to create cosmetics. About 1.2 million foreign tourists visited on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea. Masada is in the south district of Israel on an isolated rock which used to be an ancient fort. Masada is located in the Judean desert which is overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is an appropriate hike for all ages since people who don’t want or unable to hike can take the cable car which allows you to see the beautiful view. Living in Israel is like walking in history.