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MOUNT HERMON NORTH ISRAEL - SKI RESORT AND HISTORY

mount hermon israel on the golan heights

 

MOUNT HERMON - THE HIGHEST PLACE IN ISRAEL

 

 

Mount Hermon North Israel

 

Mountain Hermon is one of the country's most elevated and scenic areas. It is located in Israel's far north, with parts of it also in Syria and Lebanon.

Mount Hermon's highest point on the Israeli side is 2224 meters. Snow on the mountain begins to fall in November and does not melt until March. The Golan Heights are formed by the southern slope of Mount Hermon (since 1967, after the end of the Six-Day War - the territory of Israel).

 

GEOGRAPHY OF MOUNT HERMON


The mountain range stretches for about 60 kilometers and is shared by three countries. Israel owns approximately 70 km2 of its total land area; the highest point within these territories is 2224 meters above sea level.

The Hermon massif is located in the Banias, Snir, and Dan river basins. These are Jordan's primary water sources. Mount Hermon has the lowest temperatures and the most rainfall in all of Israel. Their annual rainfall totals 1350 mm. Every day of the year, it rains or snows.

Summer months are typically dry. Almost constant winds blow here during the warm season, and with the arrival of winter, they only intensify, tearing snow from open places. Snowdrifts can accumulate in large quantities in Hermon's gorges and depressions and remain there until mid-summer (!!!).

The vegetation on the mountain is extremely diverse. There are approximately 250 species represented here. Of course, the majority of them can be found at the very bottom and before the snow belt begins. The vegetation deteriorates as altitude increases.

 

Cypress trees thrive here. Their wood was considered an excellent material for shipbuilding during the reigns of Kings David and Solomon. This tree has come to represent the region.

Once upon a time, predators such as leopards and Syrian brown bears could be found here (the population remained until the beginning of the 20th century).

 

MOUNTAIN HERMON IN THE BIBLE


Hermon is mentioned thirteen times in the Old Testament and apocryphal texts from this period (for example, in the Book of Enoch). Deuteronomy focuses on grief the most. After studying the texts of the Old and New Testaments, some theologians concluded that the miracle of the Transfiguration of the Lord occurred here, rather than on Mount Tabor.

 

MOUNT HERMON IN ISRAELI HISTORY

 

The northern border of the Jewish settlement in the Holy Land was located here during the period of their conquest of the Holy Land. The Hivites, who established their state here, lived in tribes. The commanders of the Kingdom of Judah waged war on them and were successful in conquering this pagan tribe. The Jewish rulers' power, however, did not last long. Cleopatra was able to seize the Jewish possessions first, and then Octavian Augustus handed them over to King Herod.

Forty settlements in the vicinity of Hermon date from around the same period. Some of them were a mishmash. This region's human habitats are all fairly well studied. The settlements were linked by an impressive network of well-built roads.

 

The region's Jewish population has been steadily declining as a result of simmering conflicts that have frequently erupted. The Jewish community of the Khatsbay settlement was the last to leave Lebanon's territory in the nineteenth century. The reason was a long-running conflict between Druze, Muslims, and Christians.

Following the outcome of the First World War, France received a mandate for these territories, and Hermon was divided between Lebanon and Syria during the Second World War.

The mountain is known as "the eyes of Israel" because of its strategic importance and excellent visibility for tens of kilometers. For example, Damascus is only 45 kilometers away, and the Hula and Golan valleys are visible.

 

Following the 1967 Six-Day War, the Israeli army installed bunkers, checkpoints, and observation posts here. Large-scale battles between Syria and Israel took place here during the Yom Kippur War (1973). The Syrians were able to capture the local fortifications at first, but after a while, the area was returned to Israeli control by paratroopers and the Golani division.

 

SKI RESORT ON MOUNT HERMON

 

The ski resort and park have a total area of about 5 km2. It is situated at elevations ranging from 1600 to 2040 meters. In the winter, snow-covered slopes are ideal for skiing. Not only can you admire the snow-covered landscapes, but you can also ride on lifts, skis, sleds, and snowboards.

You won't be bored here in the summer, either. Excursions introducing the flora of the mountain range are led by knowledgeable guides.

There are up to 300,000 visitors during the winter, and up to 40 thousand during the summer.

The resort's popularity has steadily increased in recent years. The resort's management and the administration of the Neve Ativ village are making significant investments in the complex's development.

 

In the winter, 45 kilometers of trails on the mountain slopes are open to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. For easy skiing, there are 11 chairs and drag lifts. The resort has a ski school as well as a store selling ski equipment and clothing. Snacks are available at various buffets, including kosher ones.

In addition to traditional skiing and snowboarding, visitors can enjoy a variety of other activities, including mountain sled rides for children as young as three years old and alpine slides for mountain sledding for adults. The Sky Rider, Israel's first of its kind, is a circular high-altitude device for flying in the mountains.

 

In the summer, when the weather is nice in the mountains, you can ride chair lifts to the resort's highest points, visit the approaches to Hermon's battle sites, and ride mountain sleds.

 

HERMON SKI RESORT PRICES


The following are the directions to the ski resort's territory:

Adults pay 35 shekels, and children aged 3 to 12 pay 35 shekels.
Chair lift costs:

Adults pay 54 shekels, and children aged 3 to 12 pay 54 shekels.
The chairlift can be used by a maximum of two people at the same time. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

The cost of ski passes is as follows:

250 shekels for the entire day, 150 shekels for beginners, 200 shekels for half a day (from 12.00 to 16.00), and 100 shekels for beginners.
Discounts are available for those who purchase a multi-day ski pass.

 

Mountain sledding costs 30 shekels for children and adults. The sleigh has a maximum capacity of two people. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

A snow sled for children under the age of 12 costs 30 NIS as well.

A ride on the Sky Rider attraction will cost the same amount for both children and adults: 30 shekels. There is an age limit for this entertainment: riding is permitted beginning at the age of six, and the child's height must be at least one meter and twenty centimeters.

 

SKI EQUIPMENT RENTAL ON MOUNT HERMON

 

Adult ski or snowboard equipment (including board and shoes) - Shekels 160-170
Equipment for children under the age of 12 costs between 160 and 170 shekels.
Clothing and sports equipment can be rented on an individual basis. The prices begin at 30 shekels.

The resort's official website includes a detailed price list with all tariffs.

Hermon Ski Resort: prices (official website)
In Hermon, there is a ski school for children and beginners. A one-hour individual snowboarding lesson will set you back 250 shekels. It is less expensive to take a group lesson (2-3 people, 1 hour) - the cost will be 200 shekels in this case. Skiing lessons last an hour and a half and are conducted in groups of up to ten people. The cost per person is 110 shekels. Group skiing lesson for up to ten people, 90 minutes, 110 NIS per person.

 

 

MOUNT HERMON WORKING HOURS

 

The Hermon Resort's hours of operation are not affected by the season. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cars will be allowed to enter until 15.00, and the chair lift will be open until 15.30.

Depending on the weather, some objects may not function properly. The snow forecast and open objects can be viewed on the official Hermon website before the trip.

 

WEBCAMS ON MOUNT HERMON

 

Weather conditions (wind and fog) may impact the operation of certain facilities or limit the age of children permitted to use the chair lift. On the official website, you can track changes in the weather and the status of objects. Three webcams are also available, which show what is happening on the mountain in real time. The first webcam shows skiers descending the mountain, while the other two are aimed at the upper and lower sites.

 

HOW TO GET TO MOUNT HERMON

 

Hermon Ski Resort is located 10 kilometers from the town of Neve Ativ. Because there is no public transportation that goes directly to the resort, it is best to take a car with a private driver to the top of the mountain.

A round trip from Tel Aviv can also be arranged (it takes about 3 hours by car).

For those traveling by car, take Highway 90 to Banias, then turn left onto the bridge in the direction of Neve Ativ, on Highway 988 until the entrance to Majdal Shams, and then turn left onto Hermon, on Highway 98.

 

COMBINE A VISIT TO MOUNT HERMON TODAY WITH CLASSIC GOLAN HEIGHTS PRIVATE TOUR

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SLAVA BAZARSKY
PHONE: +972 53 4779797

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