The Mediterranean coast of Israel is 273 km long, stretching from the Lebanon border in the
north to the Gaza Strip border in the south. There are three sections of the coast: the Plain of Judea, extending from Gaza north to Tel-Aviv;
the Plain of Sharon, from Tel-Aviv north to the vicinity of Haifa; and the Plain of Zebulun, from Haifa north to Lebanon. The Plains
of Sharon and Zebulun are separated by the Carmel mountain range around Haifa. The coastal plains are typified by beautiful sand
dunes interspersed with rocky cliffs, ancient ruins, and most of Israel's large towns. Three quarters of the Israeli population lives on
the plains.
The focal point of the coastal plain is Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the heart of modern Israel. But the coast also
includes the impressive remains of ancient Caesarea (shown on the right); the modern incarnations of Ashdod and Ashkelon, two
of the major Philistine cities during Biblical times; the Crusader ruins and beautiful Turksih old city of Acco; the pristine beaches of Herzliya
and Netanya; and Haifa, Israel's third largest city and world center of the Bah'ai faith.
In terms of importance in Biblical history, the coastal plain is surpassed by Jerusalem and the Westbank.
But the coast is the core of the modern State of Israel, and (in the webmaster's opinion) the most beautiful and exciting part of the country. For more about
specific places on the coast, follow these links:
Caesarea
Haifa
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