Nahal Zin, Sde Boker

Nahal Zin, Sde Boker

A view of Nachal Tzin in the Negev desert (the Tzin river, canyon wadi) as seen from David Ben Gurion tomb in kibbutz Sde Boker, Israel.

Nahal Zin is 75 miles (120 km) long and drains 600 sq. miles (1550 sq. km). It is the largest wadi that begins in the Negev. The Nahal Zin was created by reverse erosion as the great height difference between the Negev Highlands and the Jordan Rift caused the underlayers to erode during the rainy season, resulting in the collapse of the harder strata of rock above. The landscape is mostly Eocene limestone, consisting of some brown-black layers of low-grade flint. The flint slows down the erosion of the limestone.
The Negev occupies 60 % of the land surface area of Israel and yet it is the least densely populated. Delineated as being south of Be’er Sheva and Dimona, it is mainly a stone and sand desert with sparse vegetation. However, following periods of heavy rain during the winter and early spring, the desert is transformed into a colourful carpet of flowers.
Sde Boker (Hebrew: שדה בוקר‎, lit. Cowboy’s Field, sometimes spelt Sede Boqer or some combination of the two) is an Israeli kibbutz in the Negev, in the South District of Israel, founded on May 15, 1952. It is part of the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council.
From 1963, it was the dwelling place of the first Prime Minister of Israel David Ben Gurion until his passing in 1973, when he was buried nearby at Midreshet Ben-Gurion aside his wife Paula Ben-Gurion. Ben-Gurion had a vision of cultivating the arid Negev desert and building up its surrounding towns such as Yeruham and Dimona. He believed that eventually the Negev would be home to many Jews who would move to Israel after having made aliyah, and he felt that Sde-Boker was a trailblazer and example for what should follow.
Sede Boqer is perhaps one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Negev. This oasis is situated on the loess plain overlooking the deep gorge of Nahal Zin. The area is especially good for raptors such as breeding Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lanner and Barbary Falcons. A feeding station at the eastern edge of the Zin Plain is maintained by the INRP A with the purpose of supplying supplementary food to the breeding Griffon and Egyptian Vultures and sometimes in winter, Black Vulture. On the ledges of towering cliffs, Sooty Falcons breed from mid-May until early October. The gorges also host breeding Desert Eagle Owl and Alpine Swifts, and in some winters, Sinai Rosefinch and Wallcreeper.
Image is an HDR process from a single RAW file

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