Hundreds of thousands of travelers set out on Saturday to nature sites and beaches across the country on the occasion of the first day of the summer vacation, as well as with the festival of Eid al-Adha celebrated by Muslims. Heavy congestion was recorded at many sites, some of which were even forced by the authorities to close intermittently for additional visitors.
Hundreds of vacationers visited nature reserves and national parks during Shabbat | Assaf Dori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
According to data from the Nature and Parks Authority, about 110,6 hikers were registered in nature reserves and national parks during the Sabbath. About 000,19 travelers spent the last night in the various parking lots - the leading ones were Achziv, Maayan Harod, Ashkelon and Masada West. The Kinneret Cities Association also reported that about 135,<> vacationers spend time on the union's quiet beaches, and over the weekend about <>,<> vacationers.
Yarkon Tel Afek National Park, Photo: Ziv Zagori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Around the Sea of Galilee, too, a large crowd of vacationers was felt. Over the weekend, about 135,<> vacationers arrived on the shores of the Kinneret Association of Cities, and the union's control room announced the closure of the parking lot at Sussita Beach due to full occupancy.
About 135 hikers over the weekend, photo: Assaf Dori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection have operated explainers in the various nature reserves in order to raise awareness of maintaining cleanliness at the various sites.
Yarkon Tel Afek National Park, Photo: Ziv Zagori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Mazi Magnagi Mokovic, from the Nature and Parks Authority, said: "In these days, when the summer holidays and the festival of Eid al-Adha of Muslim society begin, masses of travelers went on walks and picnics in nature. Teams of explainers from the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection meet them at the entertainment venues and remind them to leave the area clean."
Crowding at various sites following the first day of school and Eid al-Adha, Photo: Assaf Dori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
"Most travelers hear the explanations and comply," she added. "Unfortunately in some places the area remains very dirty, which poses a threat to wildlife, beyond damage to the landscape and a nuisance to other travelers."
Heavy loads during the weekend at the national sites and parks, photo: Assaf Dori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The chairman of the Kinneret Cities Association, Idan Greenbaum, who toured the full beaches yesterday and today, said that he was "happy to host tens of thousands of Israelis in the 15 beaches under the union's responsibility, including the non-Jewish sector, who celebrated Eid al-Adha." Greenbaum added, "The union teams are working around the clock to enable all the many families to enjoy quiet and clean vacations, and fortunately most of the public behaves responsibly and maturely, and no exceptional incidents were recorded on the beaches. Except for heavy traffic congestion."
Weather forecast
Meanwhile, the weather tonight will be warm and humid on the coast and slightly cooler inland. In the mountains there may be fogs. Tomorrow is expected to be partly cloudy to clear with temperatures and heat loads normal for the season.
Gan HaShlosha - Hiking during the weekend, photo: Assaf Dori Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Monday will see a slight increase in temperatures and will become slightly warmer than normal, especially in the mountains and inland. On Tuesday, a further rise in temperatures is expected and the heaviest heat loads will be felt, as it becomes warmer than usual in the mountains and inland and steamy in the coastal plain.
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