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Ein Avdat

Coordinates: 30°49′35″N 34°46′0″E / 30.82639°N 34.76667°E / 30.82639; 34.76667
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Ein Avdat
עין עבדת
Length5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
Geology
TypeCanyon
Geography
Coordinates30°49′35″N 34°46′0″E / 30.82639°N 34.76667°E / 30.82639; 34.76667 

Ein Avdat (Hebrew: עין עבדת) (Arabic: عَيْن عَبْدَة, ʻayn ʻabda Arabic pronunciation: [/ʕajn ʕab.da/]) or Ein Ovdat is a canyon in the Negev Desert of Israel, south of Kibbutz Sde Boker. Archaeological evidence shows that Ein Avdat was inhabited by Nabateans and Catholic monks. Numerous springs at the southern opening of the canyon empty into deep pools in a series of waterfalls. The water emerges from the rock layers with salt-tolerant plants like Poplar trees and Atriplexes growing nearby.

Etymology

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Ein is Arabic and Hebrew for spring or water source.[1] Avdat derives from the nearby city of Avdat that stood south of the canyon.[2] Avdat, formerly Eboda, was named after the Nabataean King Obodas I who, according to tradition, was buried there.[3]

History

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Prehistoric era

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Habitation during the prehistoric era is attested to by numerous flint artifacts found in the area believed to be 80,000–90,000 years old and part of Mousterian culture.[4] The flint in the outcrops nearby was utilized for arrows and points. Ostrich egg shells and onager bones shed light on the fauna of the time; some of these remains are approximately 200,000 years old.[5] Man-made knives and other hand held implements date from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods.[6][7] Remains of a small settlement consisting of several round structures dates from the Bronze Age.[8]

Antiquity

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During the Hellenistic period Avdat became a station along the Nabatean Incense Route, an ancient trading route from Egypt to India through the Arabian Peninsula. Agriculture developed during the early Roman era. Forts along the Incense Route developed into thriving cities with many public buildings and farms.[8][9]

In the Byzantine period, Ein Avdat was inhabited by monks who lived in caves. They carved out closets, shelves, benches, stairs, and water systems, and decorated the walls of the caves with crosses and prayers.[8][10]

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognizes Avdat as a Heritage Site in part because of the uniqueness of the magnificent Byzantine Church. Maybe dating from the third century (sources are not clear), it is both one of the earliest and one of the best-preserved churches constructed before the recognition of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine. After the Muslim conquest of Palestine, the region was abandoned.[8]

Modern era

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After the establishment of Kibbutz Sde Boker in 1952 and the construction of Highway 40 to Eilat, a hiking trail was created.[8] Ein Avdat has been designated a National Park of Israel and is administered by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.[11][12] The modern park is 480 ha in area.[13] Approximately 120 to 500 tourists visited the park each day in 2019.[14]

Geography

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Ein Avdat
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: The Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

The canyon of Ein Avdat is part of Nahal Zin, the largest Wadi or dry riverbed in the Negev. The 120 kilometer-long riverbed begins at the northwestern tip of Makhtesh Ramon and heads north before veering sharply eastwards. Ein Avdat was created by erosion.[8][10]

Springs

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The southernmost spring is Ein Ma'arif,[8][15] featuring a series of waterfalls and pools.[16] A Byzantine fortress overlooks the spring and adjacent agricultural land.[10][16]

Further north is Ein Avdat, a 15-meter high waterfall that flows into an 8-meter deep pool of water divided by a small artificial dam.[17]

Located near the northern entrance of the park is a spring called Ein Mor, named for the spice myrrh.[15][18]

Climate

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According to statistics compiled by a weather station at Sde Boker, the summers are hot with almost no precipitation while the winters are cold with some rain. The lowest recorded temperature for January was −3.6 °C (25.5 °F). In the summer temperatures can reach over 40 °C (104 °F). The humidity is relatively high.[19]

Ecology

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Flora

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Growing around the springs are Euphrates poplar trees[20][21][22] and Atriplexes, commonly known as saltbush, which grow on riverbanks and can tolerate salinity. Other riverside plants are tamarisks, salt trees, common reed, lesser bulrush, and sea rush. Maidenhair ferns and lichen are found on moist canyon walls, and algae grows in the water. Shrubs such as bushy bean caper and saltwort grow in dryer areas. A single, large Mt Atlas mastic (pistachio) tree grows near the park entrance.[8][11] Multiple species of green algae (Chara) grow in the water.[citation needed]

Fauna

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En Avdat is home to mammals such as Nubian ibex,[23][24] fat sand rats,[11] golden jackals, red foxes, Arabian wolves, striped hyenas,[14] and bats such as Kuhl's pipistrelle.[25] The canyon is an important protected area for griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures, which nest on the cliffs.[26] Other common birds include sand partridge, Arabian babblers, rock martin, Tristram's starling, rock doves, and Bonelli's eagles.[11][26][27] In the water live European green toads, Levantine freshwater crabs, and larvae of insects such as Culiseta mosquitoes and desert skimmer dragonflies.[28]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Benner, Jeff A. (2005). The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible: Hebrew Letters, Words and Roots Defined Within Their Ancient Cultural Context (in English and Hebrew). p. 213. ISBN 1589397762.
  2. ^ "The Glossary of Terms and Names". mosaic.lk.net. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  3. ^ Yoram Tsafrir, Leah Di Segni and Judith Green (1994). Tabula Imperii Romani: Judaea, Palaestina. Jerusalem: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. pp. 114–115.
  4. ^ Schwarcz, Henry P.; Blackwell, Bonnie; Goldberg, Paul; Marks, Anthony E. (1 February 1979). "Uranium series dating of travertine from archaeological sites, Nahal Zin, Israel". Nature. 277 (5697): 558–560. doi:10.1038/277558a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  5. ^ Rink, W. J.; Richter, D.; Schwarcz, H. P.; Marks, A. E.; Monigal, K.; Kaufman, D. (2003-02-01). "Age of the Middle Palaeolithic Site of Rosh Ein Mor, Central Negev, Israel: Implications for the Age Range of the Early Levantine Mousterian of the Levantine Corridor". Journal of Archaeological Science. 30 (2): 195–204. doi:10.1006/jasc.2002.0831. ISSN 0305-4403.
  6. ^ Marks, Anthony E.; Crew, Harvey L. (1972). "Rosh Ein Mor, an Open-Air Mousterian Site in the Central Negev, Israel". Current Anthropology. 13 (5): 591–593. ISSN 0011-3204.
  7. ^ Goder-Goldberger, Mae; Bar-Matthews, Mira (2019-04-01). "Novel chrono-cultural constraints for the Middle Paleolithic site of Rosh Ein Mor (D15), Israel". Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 24: 102–114. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.12.021. ISSN 2352-409X.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ein Avdat". mosaic.lk.net. Archived from the original on 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  9. ^ "Ein Avdat". Jewish Virtual Library. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  10. ^ a b c "Nahal Zin, Ein Avdat". bibleplaces.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  11. ^ a b c d "Ein Avdat National Park". Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Orgad, Avigdor; Tsvika Tsuk. "Ein-Avdat National Park". Kalmanovitz Bros. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  13. ^ Yaniv-Feller, Sigal; Orchan, Yotam; Bahat, Ofer; Motro, Uzi (2018-04-03). "Male-biased investment during chick rearing in the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus". Bird Study. 65 (2): 270–273. doi:10.1080/00063657.2018.1476461. ISSN 0006-3657.
  14. ^ a b Zukerman, Yuval; Sigal, Zehava; Berger-Tal, Oded (2021). "COVID-19 Restrictions in a Nature Reserve Reveal the Costs of Human Presence for the Threatened Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana)". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9. doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.751515. ISSN 2296-701X.
  15. ^ a b "Ein Avdat - A Desert Fresh Water Ecosystem". Caretakers Israel. Archived from the original on 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  16. ^ a b "Ein Ovdat National Park". boker.org.il. Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  17. ^ Winter, Dave; John Matthews (1999). Israel Handbook: With the Palestinian Authority Areas (2 ed.). Footprint Travel Guides. p. 841. ISBN 1-900949-48-2. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  18. ^ Strutin, Michal (2001). "Northern Negev". Discovering Natural Israel (illustrated ed.). Jonathan David Company, Inc. p. 341. ISBN 0-8246-0413-X. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  19. ^ "Climate information". The Israel Meteorological Service. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  20. ^ Brosché, Mikael; Vinocur, Basia; Alatalo, Edward R.; Lamminmäki, Airi; Teichmann, Thomas; Ottow, Eric A.; Djilianov, Dimitar; Afif, Dany; Bogeat-Triboulot, Marie-Béatrice; Altman, Arie; Polle, Andrea; Dreyer, Erwin; Rudd, Stephen; Paulin, Lars; Auvinen, Petri (2005-12-02). "Gene expression and metabolite profiling of Populus euphratica growing in the Negev desert". Genome Biology. 6 (12): R101. doi:10.1186/gb-2005-6-12-r101. ISSN 1474-760X. PMC 1414072. PMID 16356264.
  21. ^ Rottenberg, Aaron; Nevo, Eviatar; Zohary, Daniel (2000). "Genetic variability in sexually dimorphic and monomorphic populations of Populus euphratica (Salicaceae)". Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 30 (3): 482–486. doi:10.1139/cjfr-30-3-482. ISSN 1208-6037.
  22. ^ Bogeat-Triboulot, Marie-Béatrice; Thiec, Didier Le; Hukin, David; Cochard, Hervé; Dreyer, Erwin (2004-11-17). "Drought responses in Populus euphratica: effects on water relations, growth, hydraulic properties and gas exchange". Impacts of the Drought and Heat in 2003 on Forests: np.
  23. ^ Greenberg-Cohen, Dalia; Alkon, Philip U.; Yom-Tov, Yoram (2010-04-26). "A Linear Dominance Hierarchy in Female Nubian Ibex". Ethology. 98 (3–4): 210–220. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1994.tb01072.x.
  24. ^ Solomon A. Tadesse , Burt P. Kotler, Impact of tourism on Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana) revealed through assessment of behavioral indicators, Behavioral Ecology, Volume 23, Issue 6, November–December 2012, Pages 1257–1262, doi:10.1093/beheco/ars110
  25. ^ Pilosof, Shai; Korine, Carmi; Moore, Marianne S.; Krasnov, Boris R. (2014-05-01). "Effects of sewage-water contamination on the immune response of a desert bat". Mammalian Biology. 79 (3): 183–188. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2013.10.005. ISSN 1618-1476.
  26. ^ a b Yaniv-Feller, Sigal; Orchan, Yotam; Bahat, Ofer; Motro, Uzi (2018-04-03). "Male-biased investment during chick rearing in the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus". Bird Study. 65 (2): 270–273. doi:10.1080/00063657.2018.1476461. ISSN 0006-3657.
  27. ^ Ferns, Peter N. (1992). "Thermoregulatory Behavior of Rock Doves Roosting in the Negev Desert (Conducta de Termoregulación en Individuous de Columbia livia en el Desierto de Negev)". Journal of Field Ornithology. 63 (1): 57–65. ISSN 0273-8570.
  28. ^ Blaustein, L., & Margalit, J. (1994). Mosquito Larvae (Culiseta longiareolata) Prey Upon and Compete with Toad Tadpoles (Bufo viridis). Journal of Animal Ecology, 63(4), 841–850. doi:10.2307/5261
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