Ein Afek Nature Reserve

Ein Afek Nature Reserve
Ein Afek Aerial photo
Location in Israel
Type	Nature reserve
Location	Israel
Nearest city	Kiryat Bialik
Coordinates	32.846072°N 35.111969°E / 32.846072; 35.111969
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	En Afeq Nature Reserve
Designated	12 November 1996
Reference no.	867[1]

The Ein Afek Nature Reserve (also En Afek, En Afeq, Ain Afek) is a nature reserve in the Acre Valley within the Zvulun Valley, Israel. It covers the swamps and springs at the source of the Na'aman River, as well as the Tel Afek archaeological site. The origin of the name is the biblical city of Afek.[2]

The nature reserve, declared in 1979, covers 366 dunams. An additional 300 dunams were declared in 1994.[3] The highlights of the park include the Crusader fortress and the natural water canals and lake, which draw their waters from the year-long flowing springs of Afek, which are the source of the Naaman river.

In 1996 it was recognized as a Ramsar site.[1] It preserves the remnants of the vast swamps in the Acre Valley, drained and pumped out.[4][5]

A panoramic view from Tel Afek

References

1. "En Afeq Nature Reserve". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. "En Afek Nature Reserve", Reserve's webpage
3. "List of National Parks and Nature Reserves" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
4. "Last of the swamps", The Jerusalem Post, May 19, 2011
5. "Not your typical day job. When your office is in a nature reserve", The Jerusalem Post. August 27, 2015