Ein Gedi
Part of The Dead Sea
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Ein Gedi
An oasis of vibrant life in the desert
Ein Gedi is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, fed by freshwater springs that run through two canyons, Nahal David and Nahal Arugot. The Hebrew Bible names it as a place where David hid from Saul (1 Samuel 24), and the Song of Songs mentions its vineyards. Archaeologists have found a temple from the Chalcolithic period and a Byzantine-era synagogue with a mosaic floor. Today the reserve shelters ibex and rock hyrax, and a nearby kibbutz runs a botanical garden and a spa. In spring and early summer, hikers can swim beneath the waterfall in Nahal David.
Glossary: Ein Gedi