Road from Jerusalem to Eilat
A Start from Jerusalem
After taking a bus from Jerusalem to go Eilat, one would think that road would be boring like many other roads in the world. Surprisingly enough, its’ not, it offers a unique insight into the geography and history of the area. My early morning started at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station which is located on Jaffa Road. It is one of the main bus stations in the city, other one is close to the Damascus Gate for the Arab population. The bus number 444 will leave the station at 7am and heading for Eilat.
The Dead Sea
Just outside Jerusalem, among the small rolling hills, beside the Route No. 1 which passes through the Arab villages. I saw small boys and girls walking on hills, on their way to school. Then Route No. 1 changes to Route No. 90 and it passes beside the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea is 50 kilometers (31 mi) long and 15 kilometers (9 mi) wide at its widest point. Its surface and shores are 429 meters (1,407 ft) below sea level and it is the lowest elevation on land. The quantity of water that evaporates from it is greater than that which flows into it, such that this body of water has the highest concentration of salt in the world (340 grams per liter of water).
The Masada hilltop is situated on top of an isolated rock plateau. This site was used by the Jewish people when removed from Jerusalem by the Romans. This part of the country was very dry and trees were far and few. There had been few developments in the past and this area is trying to become tourist attraction.
The Dead Sea Works
The Dead Sea Works is is an Israeli potash plant in Sdom, Dead Sea. In the past this site was known as the Palestine Potash Company. The company also produces magnesium chloride, industrial salts, de-icers, bath salts, table salt, and raw materials for the cosmetic industry. This company uses the evaporation method to get the required minerals and it is also adding to the Dead Sea’s slow evaporation. In order to do that, water is channeled through small canal in order to control and maximise its use.
Mount Sodom
Mount Sodom is located in southwestern part of the Dead Sea in Israel. It is approximately 8 km (5 miles) long, 5 km (3 miles) wide. One of the pillars in these mountain is called Lot’s Wife. It is described that she became a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom. This mountain is also the site where Lot took refuge when he was fleeing Sodom.
Half way through, the bus stopped for a quick break and I managed to buy my breakfast. There seemed to be a bus service from Eilat city to the Taba border crossing but I took taxi which only cost me few Shekels.
The Gulf of Aqaba
On the border, I could see a naval patrol boat in the Red Sea and behind that boat, mountains were part of Jordan. The Gulf of Aqaba is divided between four countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The Taba Border Crossing, opened on April 26, 1982 it is currently the only entry/exit point between Egypt and Israel that handles tourists.
