The Southern Section - Attractions
Tze'elim Tower - steps lead to a deck at the top of a metal observation tower.Tze'elim Stream exposes groundwater at this point and the stream bed is choked with tamarisk trees and a cane thicket which all serve as cover for a variety of songbirds.
Suspension Bridge - a rope bridge, 80 meters long, crossing the stream from one bank to the opposite bank. The streambed is filled with water that feeds a thicket of cane and tamarisk trees. The Bedouins used to herd their sheep to this spot to clean their fleece before shearing them.
Reservoirs Scenic Lookout - an accessible path leads up to a lookout deck adjoining HaBesor Reservoir. In 1996, KKL-JNF built a sophisticated set of giant reservoirs with help from its friends in the United States and Australia.The reservoirs, with a capacity of 7 million cubic meters, capture the winter floodwaters flowing in HaBesor Stream. The reservoirs can also be filled with effluents from the SHAFDAN (Tel Aviv Metropolitan Sewage Treatment) plant. Another observation point, on the stream bank, overlooks the diversion dam that sends the floodwaters to the Lower Rehovot reservoir, from which the water is pumped to HaBesor Reservoirs. At the foot of HaBesor Reservoir, KKL-JNF has planted a handsome grove with acacias, tamarisks and mastic trees, which have been shaped as small trees. The grove shades a picnic Recreation Area.
Pipe Bridge - is built over the pipes that carry the water to HaBesor Reservoir. It provides a safe, convenient observation point to observe the stream when it is flooded.
Be'er Revuva - the well served the large Bedouin settlement of Ruwayba, which was set up by the Ottomans in the early 20th century in an attempt to stabilize regional security. More than ten wells were dug in Ruwayba. The first settlers at Mitzpe Gevulot in 1943, acquired their drinking water from here.
The Large Acacia - this famous acacia tree died sometime around 2015, possibly following a series of consecutive droughts, or perhaps as a consequence of aerial pesticide spraying.
The tree's skeleton continues to grace this spot to this day. A rest corner has been built below it and a small grove of acacias has been planted nearby.
Tel Far'ah ("Sheruhan") - Archaeologist Flinders Petrie, who excavated the site in the late 1920's, discovered traces of almost continuous habitation since the Middle Canaanite Period II (1750-1550 BC) through to the Roman period.The ancient burial grounds at the foot of the Tel revealed clay anthropoid sarcophagi from the 13th century BC. In the past this site was identified as Biblical Sheruhan, although nowadays this identification has been discredited. The first settlers on the site fortified it quite thoroughly, they deepened the two streambeds north and south of the Tel and added a deep moat to the west, which is clearly visible today. On the south side a large brick gate was discovered. constructed of three pairs of pillars with four chambers between them. These fortifications functioned into the Late Canaanite period, at which time the Egyptians ruled Canaan (mid-16th to 12th century BC). A large brick structure was uncovered from the end of this period - "the Governor's mansion", and in the north of the Tel a formidable brick wall was found, over five meters thick, apparently from the 10th century BC or shortly thereafter. The remains have eroded over the years and are not very impressive, however we recommend you climb to the top of the Tel to take in the attractive view.
Railway reconstruction - opposite HaBesor National Park (Eshkol Park) one can see the reconstructed wooden bridge and railcar from the Scenic Drive. These two commemorate the railway the British built here after World War I.