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Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve and Conservation area () is a
The main reserve, Coral Beach Reserve, was established in 1964. An adjacent and more southerly reserve, the Eilat South Sea Nature Reserve, was declared in 2002, and a third reserve, Coral Sea Nature Reserve, was declared in 2009.
The coral reef is the only coral reef in Israel.
The main purpose of the nature reserve, for which it was established, is the preservation and rehabilitation of the reef in the Gulf of Eilat, which was severely damaged over the years. As part of the conservation activities, the reserve defined most of the lagoon area (except for 3 shallow wading pools) as protected and closed by a fence on the side of the beach and buoys from the sea side, so that visitors will not be able to swim there and harm the corals and reef dwellers. In addition, the reserve has regulations against feeding fish and animals, which may be harmed by eating human food, or even accidentally swallow plastic wrappers and choke on them. In addition, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel sends divers and volunteers to clean the beach and the reef itself, search for debris and plastic packaging (which can often get stuck on a coral and suffocate it), and lead tours to the area.
The reserve also monitors the corals and fish in the reserve, so that their health and developmental status can be known. In order to encourage the growth of the reef, iron and stone structures were scattered on the sandy bottom opposite the reef wall that simulate the areas on which corals usually form, thus allowing more room for corals to grow and develop in, which in turn allows more living areas for the reef dwellers.
File:Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea) coral reefs.jpg
File:Eilat Coral World Underwater Observatory 09.jpg
File:Eilat Coral World Underwater Observatory 08.jpg
File:Eilat coral reef nature reserve map at site.jpg, Eilat coral reef nature reserve map
Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve
Nature reserves in Israel Landforms of the Red Sea Eilat Coral reefs Tourism in Eilat {{Israel-geo-stub
Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve and Conservation area () is a nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
and national park
A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...
in the Red Sea
The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...
, near the city of Eilat
Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...
in Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
. It covers of shore, and is the northernmost shallow water coral reef
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in group ...
in the world, and possibly one of the more resilient to climate change.
It is popular for diving and research, and was founded by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (, ; ) is an Israeli government organization that manages nature reserves and national parks in Israel, the Golan Heights and parts of the West Bank. The organization was founded in April 1998, merging two o ...
. At the southernmost point of the nature reserve there is the Coral World Underwater Observatory, the first of its kind in the world, and the largest public aquarium
A public aquarium () or public water zoo is the aquatic counterpart of a zoo, which houses living aquatic animal and aquatic plant, plant specimens for public viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, ...
in the Middle East
The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq.
The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
. It was listed as one of ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''History
The coral reef inEilat
Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...
is unique in many ways. It is the northernmost coral reef in the world, and its isolated location in the Gulf of Aqaba, where salinity is higher and there is less water movement than on most days. This has enabled the development of many endemic species. In the past, the reef covered the entire western shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
The Gulf of Aqaba () or Gulf of Eilat () is a large gulf at the northern tip of the Red Sea, east of the Sinai Peninsula and west of the Arabian Peninsula. Its coastline is divided among four countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
...
, and parts of the northern coast, so that its length was over 12 kilometers, but due to human activities it was harmed and the reef has been reduced to a very small area. The natural reserve was one of the three best known natural reserves in Israel in 1962.
The main reserve, Coral Beach Reserve, was established in 1964. An adjacent and more southerly reserve, the Eilat South Sea Nature Reserve, was declared in 2002, and a third reserve, Coral Sea Nature Reserve, was declared in 2009.
The coral reef is the only coral reef in Israel.
Preservation
In 2018, Jerusalem Post reported on the coral reef and said that the coral reef was growing again.
The main purpose of the nature reserve, for which it was established, is the preservation and rehabilitation of the reef in the Gulf of Eilat, which was severely damaged over the years. As part of the conservation activities, the reserve defined most of the lagoon area (except for 3 shallow wading pools) as protected and closed by a fence on the side of the beach and buoys from the sea side, so that visitors will not be able to swim there and harm the corals and reef dwellers. In addition, the reserve has regulations against feeding fish and animals, which may be harmed by eating human food, or even accidentally swallow plastic wrappers and choke on them. In addition, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel sends divers and volunteers to clean the beach and the reef itself, search for debris and plastic packaging (which can often get stuck on a coral and suffocate it), and lead tours to the area.
The reserve also monitors the corals and fish in the reserve, so that their health and developmental status can be known. In order to encourage the growth of the reef, iron and stone structures were scattered on the sandy bottom opposite the reef wall that simulate the areas on which corals usually form, thus allowing more room for corals to grow and develop in, which in turn allows more living areas for the reef dwellers.
Gallery
See also
* Coral World Underwater Observatory *Coral Reef
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in group ...
* Tourism in Israel
Tourism in Israel is a major economic sector and a significant source of national income. Israel offers a plethora of historical and religious sites, beach resorts, natural sites, archaeological tourism, heritage tourism, adventure tourism, and ...
References
External links
Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve
Nature reserves in Israel Landforms of the Red Sea Eilat Coral reefs Tourism in Eilat {{Israel-geo-stub