Trips around the Dead Sea and Judean Desert

Ein Tzukim

The lowest nature reserve in the world, also known as Ein Feshkha (the Broken Spring), located at the northern part of the Dead Sea. Ein Tzukim was declared a natural reserve in 1969 and was divided into three parts several years later:

• The northern part is prohibited to visitors and access is exclusively granted to Nature and Parks Authority experts to ensure that it is not damaged.
• The central part is open to the public, offering several enchanted pools with water flowing from natural springs. Here, visitors can hike independently and the site is equipped with various facilities, including restrooms, dressing rooms, picnic tables and benches, and more. There is also an archeological site here dating to the Second Temple with a device that researchers believe was used to extract perfume from the persimmon bush (unrelated to the fruit we currently call a persimmon).
• The third, southern part, is also called the “hidden reserve”, where organized tours are conducted upon prior scheduling. Tours are permitted with a guide only and they follow hiking trails among the many pools and plants throughout the reserve.

In addition, there is an observation point showing the Dead Sea’s shrinkage and the changes in the region in recent year.

Two species of fish, the redbelly tilapia and blue tilapia, swim in the reserve pools, brought to the region in an attempt to grow fish during the Jordanian regime. Discerning visitors will also notice the dozens of donkeys roaming the reserve freely. They were originally brought to the reserve to thin the reeds that interfere with the growth of other plants.