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Hamukei Nitzana, Negev Desert Hamukei Nitzana( Nitzana Curves) is a natural park full of large, bright-white chalk rocks that form in curvy, smooth patterns reminiscent of, well, curves. Its location right on Israel’ s southern border with Egypt means that it’ s not flooded with tourists even in the most Covidfree of times, enabling enterprising visitors to walk around and enjoy the moon-like setting in peace and quiet. It’ s also a great destination for a moonlight hike, when the chalky stones shine bright.
A view of the chalk stone park of Hamukei Nitzana near the border with Egypt. Photo by Mendy Hechtman / Flash 90
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Little Crater, Negev Desert Despite its name, the Little Crater is quite a large secret location, coming in at 5 miles long, almost 4 miles wide and 1,300 feet deep. The crater is a rare geological phenomenon and is far less famous than its cousins, the Ramon Crater and the Big Crater. It was only deemed a nature reserve in 2019 following a decades-long struggle with Israel’ s defense establishment, which opposed the move because some of the reserve belongs to the Negev Nuclear Research Center. It is home to unique geological forms, colorful rocks and endangered wildlife and is a wonderful site for a desert hike.
The Little Crater in the Negev desert is a unique geological phenomenon. Photo by Ester Inbar / Wikimedia Commons
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The entrance to the Alma Cave in the northern Galilee region. Photo by Dmitry Babin / Wikimedia Commons
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Alma Cave, Galilee Alma Cave in the northern Galilee region is everything you could wish for in a cave: long, dark, cold and full of bats. It has a few legends surrounding it, such as the one claiming that Jews returned to the Land of Israel from their Babylonian exile through it( because it’ s so long).
Fast-forward a few thousand years, and the cave is equipped with pegs and light reflectors to ease the way in for visitors, who should still come in long-sleeved clothes and anti-slip shoes. The cave is currently closed to protect its bat population, but once it reopens it’ s well worth the descent.