Geography of Palestine

Palestine is a territory of the eastern Mediterranean region that includes sections of modern Israel as well as the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip (along the Mediterranean Sea coast) and the West Bank (west of the Jordan River). The term Palestine has been widely and sometimes controversially connected with this little region, which some claim also includes Jordan.

Over the period of three millennia, both the geographic area represented by the name and its political status have altered. The region (or at least a portion of it) is known as the Holy Land and is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

Physical Features

The Gaza Strip's landscape is flat or undulating, with dunes near the coast. Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) is the highest point, rising 105 meters (344 feet) above sea level. The West Bank's landscape is largely rugged dissected highland, with some flora in the west but mostly barren in the east. The elevation ranges from 429 meters (1,407 feet) below sea level on the northern border of the Dead Sea to 1,030 meters (3,380 feet) above sea level on Mount Nabi Yunis.

The West Bank is landlocked; the highlands serve as the primary recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers. Gaza's coastal plain is mostly up of sand dunes and fertile sandy deposits. There are no other rocks in this area besides a porous calcareous sandstone known as kurkar in Arabic. The West Bank, on the other hand, is characterized by modest mountains such as Mount Gerizim (881m), Nabi Samwil (890m), and Mount Scopus (826m).

The rocks are mostly made up of marine deposits (limestone and dolomite). The porosity of these rocks allows water to pass down to the non-porous strata, which feed water to the region's numerous aquifers. The Jordan Valley is part of the Dead Sea Transform, which is part of the Great Rift Valley that connects the African Plate to the Arabian Plate.

Major Regions

The Jordan Valley is a deep rift valley with a width ranging from 1.5 to 14 miles (2.5 to 22 kilometers). Natural basalt dams obstruct the bed of drained Lake Ula and Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee) in its northern half. The valley is extremely dry and hot, descending to around 1,310 feet (400 metres) below sea level—the lowest land depth on the Earth's surface—and cultivation is limited to irrigated areas or rare oasis, such as at Jericho or ʿEn Gedi on the Dead Sea's edge.

The Negev, a desert-like region, is triangular in shape, with the southern apex. It stretches from Beersheba in the north, where 8 inches (200 mm) of precipitation falls annually and grain is farmed, to Elat on the Red Sea in the extreme south. It is limited on the west by the Sinai Peninsula and on the east by the northern continuation of the Great Rift Valley.

Galilee's hill area is better hydrated and more densely forested than Samaria or Judaea. Upper Galilee is a scrub-covered limestone plateau north of the Bet Netofa Valley (Plain of Asochis), with altitudes of 4,000 feet (1,200 metres). Lower Galilee, to the south, is an area of east-west hills enclosing protected valleys like Nazareth, with rich basaltic soils, and its highest point, Mount Tabor (1,929 feet [588 metres]).

Samaria, the ancient kingdom of Israel's territory, is a hilly district that stretches from the Plain of Esdraelon to the latitude of Ramallah. Its mountains—Carmel, Gilboa, Aybl (Ebal), and Al-r (Gerizim)—are lower than those of Upper Galilee, and its basins, particularly the Arrbah Plain and Nablus, are larger and more softly curved than those of Judaea. Samaria is easily accessible from the seashore via the Plain of Sharon and from Jordan via the Friah valley. Jerusalem has rapidly expanded along the mountain ridges.

From Ramallah to Beersheba, the high plateau of Judaea is a stony desert of limestone, with rare areas of cultivation, such as at Al-Brah and Hebron. It is divided from the coastal plain by a longitudinal fosse and Ha-Shefela, a band of low hills of soft chalky limestone 5 to 8 miles (8 to 13 km) wide. The Judaean plateau quickly drops to the Jordan Valley, which is only accessible by the wadis Qelt and Muqalliq.

The Negev, a desert-like region, is triangular in shape, with the southern apex. It stretches from Beersheba in the north, where 8 inches (200 mm) of precipitation falls annually and grain is farmed, to Elat on the Red Sea in the extreme south. It is limited on the west by the Sinai Peninsula and on the east by the northern continuation of the Great Rift Valley.

The Plain of Esdraelon, caused by subsidence along fault lines, divides the hills of southern Galilee from the mountains of Samaria further north. The plain, which is just 16 miles wide at its widest point, narrows to the northwest, where the Qishon River breaks through to the Plain of Akko, and to the southeast, where the arod River—which rises at the Spring of arod—has carved the plain into the Jordan Valley's side.

Esdraelon, which is covered in rich basaltic soils washed down from the Galilean highlands, is significant for its richness as well as the enormous highway it opens from the Mediterranean to the countries across the Jordan. The pass of Megiddo and other lesser routes between the mountain spurs of Carmel and Gilboa connect the Mediterranean plain with Esdraelon.

Climate

The climate on the West Bank is largely Mediterranean, with elevated parts being slightly colder than the shoreline to the west. The West Bank comprises much of the Judean Desert in the east, including the western shoreline of the Dead Sea, which has a dry and hot environment. Gaza has a hot semi-arid climate with mild winters and dry hot summers (Köppen: BSh).

The hottest months are July and August, with average highs of 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit). January is the coldest month, with average temperatures of 7 °C (45 °F). Rain is rare and mostly falls between November and March, with annual precipitation rates averaging 4.57 inches (116 mm).

Drainage

The Jordan River is Palestine's main river, marking the eastern border of the West Bank until it empties into the Dead Sea. According to Friends of the Earth Middle East, Israel, Jordan, and Syria divert up to 96% of the river's pure water, while enormous quantities of untreated sewage are released into the river. The Dead Sea is Palestine's greatest body of water, while the valley of Marj Sanur produces a seasonal lake. Wadis, or ephemeral streams, flow into the Jordan River or Dead Sea across the West Bank, including Wadi Og, Wadi Fa'rah, and Wadi Qelt. Others pass through Israel before entering the Mediterranean Sea, such as Hadera Stream and Wadi Kabiba.

Resources

Palestine's natural resources include Dead Sea mud extracts such as magnesium, potash, and bromine. However, Israeli settlements control these resources; the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka estimated in 2015 that access to these natural resources might have added $918 million to the Palestinian economy.

Palestine also has many rich gas resources in the maritime zone of the Gaza Strip; however, they have not been used since they were identified in the year 2000, due to Israel restricting the maritime zone of Gaza from 3 to 6 nautical miles offshore as part of the Gaza Strip embargo.

Conclusion

Palestine's geography is defined by its numerous physical features, which include the flat landscape of the Gaza Strip, the steep hills of the West Bank, and the Jordan Valley. For Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the region has historical and theological significance. The climate ranges from Mediterranean to hot semi-arid, with important water bodies like the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Water diversion, pollution, and limited access to resources have all posed problems in the area.

Natural resources in Palestine include Dead Sea mud extraction and substantial gas deposits in the Gaza Strip's coastal zone. Many of these resources are controlled by Israeli settlements, which have considerable impact on the Palestinian economy. Palestine's terrain contains both historical and present intricacies, which influence its economic and environmental dynamics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Palestine's geography?

Palestine includes parts of modern Israel and the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

What are the main physical features of Palestine?

The Gaza Strip features a flat or undulating landscape, while the West Bank is characterized by rugged dissected highlands. The Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and various mountain ranges contribute to the region's diverse terrain.

How is the climate in Palestine?

Palestine's climate varies from Mediterranean to hot semi-arid.

What are some key water bodies in Palestine?

The Jordan River serves as the main river in Palestine, forming the eastern border of the West Bank and flowing into the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea and Marj Sanur contribute to the region's water resources.

What are Palestine's natural resources?

Palestine's natural resources include Dead Sea mud extracts (magnesium, potash, bromine) and rich gas deposits in the Gaza Strip's maritime zone.