The
State of Israel, an independent nation in southwest Asia, is located
between the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the head of
the Gulf of AQABA, an arm of the Red Sea. Israel was established on
May 14, 1948, as a Jewish state. Israel is considered the Holy Land
for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Language
The official language of Israel is Hebrew. English is widely used
as a second language, and recently Russian has become commonplace.
Religion
Freedom
of religion and the inviolability of the holy places and centers of
worship for all religions are guaranteed by law. For the Jewish population,
supreme religious authority is vested in the Chief Rabbinate, made
up of a chief rabbi . from the Ashkenazim and one from the Sephardim,
along with the Supreme Rabbinical Council.
Israel's Mediterranean Coast
From the Rosh Hanikra grottoes in the North; (and moving
southwards): the resort city of Nahariya; the walled Crusader city
of Acre; Haifa; Caesarea, a Roman and (later) Crusader city, site
of a reconstructed Roman amphitheatre and home of lsrael's only 18-hole
golf course; Netanya, one of lsrael's major seaside resorts; Herzliya;
with its new marina and deluxe hotels; Tel Aviv-Jaffa; Bat Yam and
Ashkelon, two seaside resort cities.
Climate
Israel's climate is Mediterranean in the north and arid in the south.
In summer the entire area is dominated by a subtropical high that
brings cloudless skies and no precipitation. In winter, the southern
half of the country remains under the subtropical high, but weather
in the northern half is influenced by cyclonic depressions that pass
over the Mediterranean, bringing moderate rainfall. Precipitation
in the north averages 700 mm (28 in), falling primarily from October
to March. Rainfall amounts diminish rapidly to the south. Beyond BEERSHEBA
and GAZA desert conditions predominate.
Temperature
Average summer temperatures range from 18 degrees to 32 degrees C
(65 degrees to 90 degrees F) over most of the country. Winters are
mild, with temperatures averaging 14 degrees C (57 degrees F) along
the coast and 9 degrees C (48 degrees F) in the mountains. The Rift
Valley is about 9 C degrees (15 F degrees) warmer than the rest of
the nation in winter. The Dead Sea area is the lowest place on the
planet and the climate is one of the hottest regions in the world.
Drainage Location
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