Israel - Overview Of Country

Overview Of Country

Israel is a Republic in southwestern Asia, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. It is a small, irregularly shaped country, slightly larger than Slovenia.

It is about 437 km (260 miles) long, and it varies in width from 10-118 km (6-70 miles).

There are two coastlines. The longer is on the Mediterranean Sea and is 202 km (120 miles) in length. The other is only 10 km (6 miles) long. It is in the extreme southern part of the country, on the Gulf of Aquaba, an arm of the Red Sea.

Arab countries surround Israel. Lebanon is on the North, Syria on the Northeast, Egypt on the South West and Jordan on the East.

The Gaza Strip separates Israel from the sea for about 42 km (25 miles).

Largely the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) now administers the Jericho area and the Gaza Strip, formerly occupied by Israel. Israel and the PNA jointly administer other areas and the West Bank outside Jericho.

Plants and Animals: Grasses and shrubs grow on the sandy coastal plains. In the Ghor there is a dense growth of shrubs and trees, among them oleanders, poplars, and tamarisks. In the Judean plain and in the foothills one finds scattered tufts of drought-resistant grasses and sometimes even rainy season flowers are found there. Only plants that require very little moisture survive in the Negev.

The deer, antelope, wild sheep, wild boar, fox, jackal, wolf, weasel, and hyena are some of the animals found in Israel, particularly in Galilee and the Jordan valley. Scorpions and giant moths are just two of the many insects found. Swarms of locusts invade the Negev periodically, although they are not native to the area. There are many snakes, some of which are venomous. Lizards are common household pests in some areas.