Ein Gedi is an oasis and a popular resort on the Dead Sea. Healing sulfur springs are used here, and around the village there is a national park with numerous ancient monuments.
The town was founded in 1949, first as a military camp and then as a kibbutz, in a place discovered a hundred years earlier by the American traveler Wiliiam Lynch. The construction of tourist infrastructure began in the 1980s and today it is one of the most dynamically operating resorts on the Dead Sea.
The main advantage of Ein Gedi is its location. The green oasis in the barren areas of the Judean Desert looks like a garden of paradise. The Ein Gedi National Park was created around the village. The climatic conditions prevailing here allow the development of subtropical vegetation. An additional advantage of this place are the beautiful landscapes, which include, among others wadi, with streams of crystal clear water and numerous cascades. One of such places is the Arugot nature reserve.
Although Ein Gedi is not located on the very shore of the Dead Sea, it is considered a seaside resort. The nearby Ein Gedi Beach is very well equipped and can be reached from the settlement by the tourist train. Bathing in the Dead Sea has its specificity due to the high salinity of the reservoir. After leaving the sea, it is necessary to wash thoroughly in fresh water and rinse off the salt layer.
In 1994, the Botanical Garden was established in the town, where you can admire plants from most continents. The predominant vegetation is subtropical, Mediterranean and tropical, with a large collection of bamboos and baobabs.
The vicinity of Ein Gedi is also known for historical discoveries. There is the National Park of Antiquities, where you can see the Ancient Synagogue and the Ancient Temple. Also discovered here are the approx. 2,500-year-old anchors, which are exhibited in the museum in Jerusalem, and the hideout of insurgents against the Roman Empire from the 2nd century AD
