SAVE THE PLANET - ecological tour
The Galilee Sea
History And Geography:. The Sea of galilee (Kinneret) is one of the main water source used by the country of Israel. It is the lowest fresh water lake in the world .The climate is Mediterranean and it is recommended to visit the lake in all seasons. The lowest height of the lake is between 208-214 meters, below the sea level. The highest place is 168 meters and the (max) depth is 44 meters .
The Kinneret is located on the Great Rift Valley, in the northeast of the state of Israel.
The average annual amount of water entering the lake is 870 Cubic millimeter
A little bit on the historic side of the lake…
According to the bible , the tribe of Naphtali received all the land around the lake. In the Second Temple period few Jewish settlements were established around the lake.
Herod Antipater was the Founder of the city of Tiberius in the 20th year AC and he called it on the name of the roman emperor Tiberius. The city of Tiberius became the Jewish center that flourished for many years until the city was occupied by the pilgrims in 1099.
Zionist settlements were around the Kinneret since the second wave of immigration of Jews into Israel. Many kibbutz’s were established around the lake ,the most famous of them is Degania. The Farm of Kinneret was also established and was the first farm in Israel.
In 1949, because of the Rhodes agreements with Syria, it was decided that all the Kinneret area belongs to Israel. But, later when the Syrians demanded access to the banks of the lake, Israel rejected the request and approved Syrians to be able to get close up to 10 meters to the lake.
animals
selected species:
The common Tilapia
The common Tilapia fish is a very common fish in the Sea of Galilee and in Israel generally. The common Tilapia is originally from Africa and is smaller than other tilapia, the common tilapia's size can reach up to 20 cm but found some tilapia is about 33 cm. Tilapia fish found changes color during the breeding season. Changing color helps them find a \ a spouse, hiding from enemies (camouflage) and even help finding the parents.
Eel
The eel’s shape is similar to the snake’s shape. There are about 25 species of eels. In not polluted rivers in Israel a brown European eel can be found. His size is 1.5 meters and he can Weight up to one kilogram. The eels live on the seabed, some eels which produce electricity to protect themselves make about 660 volts which is really dangerous to humans.
Leeches
Leeches are type of medical natural Worms. They are used in many medical procedures especially in Bloodletting (sucking the septic blood and Renewal of the “good blood”). The leech size is about 1-15 cm. Most leeches are fed on animals such as birds, mammals and fishes of all kinds. Leeches need a lot of moisture in order to live this is why they live near water bodies; some even live in the water or both in the water and on the land. Leaches have many different colors such as: black, brown, blue, red and even green. The have eyes (4-10 depend on the type). They have sharp and strong teeth that are capable of tearing the flesh of a man or an animal.
The Galilee sea’s Acanthobrama
The Galilee sea’s Acanthobrama’s main habitat is lake is the Galilee sea , but he also exists in other lakes in Israel. he only live in Israel.
In addition to the fact that he is a Israeli fish he has great economic importance because many fishermen fish him and many people like to eat him.
Recently because of the water level dropping, the amount of acanthobramas has lowered. Researchers checked and found out that because of the water level dropping the natural habitats of the fish are disappearing.
His main food is zeoplanktons.
Sea Gulls
The Seagull is a type of water bird that has many species, There are large gulls that can fly very long distances, but the gulls in Israel are relatively small with black or gray spots on their heads or wings.
Their body length is between 25-68c "m. their wing span is between 80 – 165 c"m and their weight is 120 – 2,200 grams. Their body is big and clumsy, their wings are big but thin and their beak is relatively small and because of its small beak it can't dive underwater and hunt fish so it throws small bread pieces into the water and when the fish jump out of the water the sea gulls jump in the water and eats the fish.
The Seagull is an omnivore that eats mainly fish and insects. the seagull is a friendly animal that lives in flocks and groups.
you may also encounter: Catfish,
salmon
Cinereous
Vulture
Herpestes
snakes
FOX
plants
The Common Reed - the family of grains and plant height 3-5 m. Barrel available is a wide distribution of all plants with plants and is found on every continent except Antarctica.
Salix Willow - family Harbtiim. Height is up to 8 m and is growing in streams and marshes. Circulation in the country is in the Golan, Hermon, Galilee, the Mediterranean coast, Upper Jordan valley, valleys, Gilboa, Carmel,Samarian mountains, Judean mountains, Judean desert and Dead Sea valley, Ein Gedi, Sharon plain.
