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Nahal Kalah: a trip to the white lily blossom in Carmel - voila! tourism

2023-05-04T18:28:07.203Z


The black lily was considered extinct about a hundred years ago, but it was discovered in several locations in the north of the country. An excursion route to Nahal Kalach in Carmel, where it always blooms at the beginning of May. Details here! tourism


A trip to Nahal Oren in Carmel (Photo: Eyal Shapira)

For a short period of the year, after all the "stars" - anemones, tulips, orchids, etc. - have finished blooming, it is the turn of the most impressive flower of all - the black lily, a geophyte from the lily family, with a large bulb and large white flowers.



The guides of the Carmel Beach School of the Society for the Protection of Nature recommend a family walking route in Nahal Kalach in Carmel, at the height of the white lily bloom and in a location that has impressive concentrations of the special flower.

The route is attractive and beautiful thanks to the dense Mediterranean forest, the dramatic rock outcrops and the view of the Mediterranean Sea, and if you're lucky - you'll be almost alone.

A geophyte from the rose family, with a large bulb and large white flowers.

Shushan Tzhor (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Sagi Melman)

is in danger of extinction and flourishes in Carmel and the Galilee.

A black lily in Nahal Kalah (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Fazit Shabid Sheit)

"As a rose among the bridegrooms, so my wife among the daughters"

In the Song of Songs, the lily is described as "

like a lily among the thorns, yes my shepherd among the daughters

", illustrating how prominent the lily is among the vegetation in the season when many thorns bloom.

The lily blooms on a tall column with large white flowers, is in danger of extinction and blooms in Carmel and the Galilee.

The black lily is protected and therefore should not be picked.



The importance of the black lily as a symbol in the Christian religion, caused a great collection and displacement of lily bulbs in the Land of Israel by pilgrims from Europe.

At the beginning of the 20th century, it seemed that the plant, which was apparently common in the past, became extinct in the country.

In 1925, the shade of a lily was discovered in the Paki'in Ridge in the Upper Galilee, and later, the species was also discovered in the Nahal Yagor area in Carmel.



Over the years, several more sites were discovered in Israel where the black lily grows, but the plant is still considered to be in danger of extinction.

Today, the black lily grows in Israel, as far as is known, in Carmel and in three sites in the Upper Galilee: Nahal Kaziv, Mount Shazor and Peki'in Ridge.

These habitats are very important for conservation, both because of the Christian tourists, and because they are the southern limit of the species' distribution.

The importance of the black lily in Christianity, caused the gathering and uprooting of its bulbs by pilgrims (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Fazit Shabid Sheit)

A concave cliff that is considered a unique geological phenomenon.

Ha'tsinir in Nahal Kalah (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Sde Hoof HaCarmel School)

A road story

Those who want to hike the full route (cable route, 2.5 km) - leave one vehicle at the Little Switzerland parking lot in Carmel and drive to the beginning of the route at the Pitholim parking lot. From there, leave with the red trail markings, the road is wide and comfortable with a moderate descent. Early summer blossoms accompany the road until it opens An impressive view of the sea. Look for the concentrations of blossoms on the slopes to the right of the path.



From here, you can turn around and retrace your steps back to the car, and those who want to continue on the route should continue with the red path until you reach a bridge built from the days of the British Mandate in Israel at the Nahal Kalah river bed, and continue with the red path in an upward direction



. Those who want to get to Little Switzerland by car on the easy route (round trip, a kilometer each way), will continue uphill with spectacular views of the cliffs of Nahal Kalach and the sea, until they reach the parking lot.



Those who choose the more challenging route will go to the green route (about 100 m after the bridge) and from there they will climb the rocks in a short but steep ascent towards the parking lot.

It is highly recommended to look for the transparent marking on the way (white-transparent-white).

This path will lead you in a short walk to Tsenir, a kind of concave cliff that is considered a unique geological phenomenon.

From there you return to the green path and after a few steps you reach the parking lot.

HaTzinir on the transparent path in Carmel (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Field School of the Carmel Beach)

to the trip we went

How to get there:

on waze: Vithol parking lot.

Detail: drive towards Beit Oren, immediately after turning to the kibbutz turn right (before the horse farm) onto a dirt road that leads to the parking lot.

You can walk the round-trip route, or leave a car in the Little Switzerland parking lot.


Difficulty level:

easy.

You can choose a shorter, more challenging route.


Intended for:

families, couples, flower lovers.


Recommended period:

all year round and especially in early May, the period when the white lily blooms


Accessibility:

the route is not accessible


Important highlights:

during this season it is important to walk with closed shoes, it is also important to stock up on water and a hat.

The trip is in a nature reserve, so it is forbidden to pick flowers and you must take any waste with you.

  • tourism

  • Trips in the country

  • Trips in the north

Tags

  • Trips in the country

  • Carmel

Source: walla

All life articles on 2023-05-04

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