Geology Tour in Israel – Tour Highlights

Dead Sea Rift and the Jordan Valley:

First, Let’s journey to the heart of the Dead Sea Rift, a geological wonder that marks the divergence between the African and Arabian Plates. Marvel at the Jordan Valley’s rugged landscapes and the Dead Sea’s stunning views, a saltwater lake with its own fascinating geology.

Plates Tectonics in Israel

Makhtesh Ramon:

Explore Makhtesh Ramon, a breathtaking erosion crater in the Negev Desert. This natural wonder results from millions of years of geological processes and offers a glimpse into the region’s ancient geological history.

Timna Park:

Delve into the geological and archaeological wonders of Timna Park. Admire the iconic Solomon’s Pillars, towering sandstone formations shaped by wind and water over millennia. Learn about the region’s copper mining history and its geological significance.

Ein Gedi Oasis:

Discover the unique geological features of the Ein Gedi Oasis, an oasis along the Dead Sea. Explore this geological oasis’s hidden waterfalls, desert canyons, and lush vegetation.

Coral Beach Nature Reserve:

Journey to the Red Sea coast and witness the stunning coral formations of the Coral Beach Nature Reserve. Explore the underwater world through snorkeling or diving and learn about the geological processes shaping these vibrant ecosystems.

Golan Heights:

Visit the Golan Heights and witness evidence of ancient volcanic activity. Explore volcanic landscapes, basalt formations, and ancient ruins that provide insights into the region’s geological history.

Expert Guides and Tours

So, to fully appreciate Israel’s geological wonders, consider joining guided geological tours led by experts in the field. Geologists and knowledgeable guides can explain the geological processes that have shaped the landscape and highlight the subtle features that tell the Earth’s story.

Planning Your Tour

So, before embarking on your geology tour, it’s recommended to research available tours, check opening hours, and consider the best times of the year to visit. Geology tours are a fantastic way to connect with the Earth’s history and witness the incredible forces shaping Israel’s diverse and captivating landscapes. Get ready to step back in time and explore the geological wonders of Israel!

The Timna Valley is located at the northern end of the Arab-Novi Shield formed at the end of the Precambrian era. Then the processes of crystallization of magma in Timna have formed phaneritic plutonic rocks such as granite; Syenite, and Gabbro. The uplift of the area about 550 million years ago was accompanied by intense erosion; which exposed some of the ancient Igneous bedrock.

On top of the exposed rocks, a thick layer of sandstone was stratified by streams that flowed from east to west. These sandstones were layering from the turn of the Cambrian. Above the sandstone, sandy dolomite and shale were also found on the summit of Mount Timna and in the outcrops along the Timna River. These rocks were stratified during a sea flood that reached the Eilat area in the Lower Cambrian.

Arava Valley A Geological Window: Beautiful Colored Sand Stone 320M Years Old

A long period of weathering and drifting activity then began. About 320 million years ago a new stratification of white and colored sandstones began. The variety of colors is due to the penetration of solutions rich in iron and copper into the sandstones. Layers of marine sedimentary rocks with a total thickness of about 800 meters; containing many fossils indicate that the area was flooded by the Tethys Sea.

Then the sea, which advanced from the northwestern region; reached the Timna region about 100 million years ago (Cenomanian Era). This flooding lasted until about 40 million years ago (Eocene Epoch) during which limestone; dolomite; marl; clay; chalk, phosphorite, and flint were mainly stratified. The process of upliftment of the area at the end of the Eocene Epoch led to the retreat of the Tethys Sea.

Then the marine sedimentary rocks were exposed and a long period of terrestrial weathering began during which most of the rocks that were at the top of the marine section were swept away. Most of the geological faults found in the Timna Valley are marginal structures associated with the refractive processes of the Syrian-African rift; which began less than 20 million years ago and continues to this day.

I invite you to join one of my tours of the Arava Valley and explore this amazing region. Sadly some people that come to visit Israel tend to skip it. But I would urge you to reconsider if you have some extra days. My recommendation is to go right away to Timan Park which is a magical place, and good for families as well.

Arava Valley A Geological Window: Geological Features

The most striking and well-known formation in Timna Valley is Solomon’s Pillars. The pillars are natural structures that were formed by centuries of water erosion through fractures in the sandstone cliff until it became a series of distinct, pillar-shaped structures. There is another geological point of interest called ‘The Mushroom’ is an unusual monolithic; mushroom-shaped; red sandstone rock formation is known as a hoodoo. The mushroom shape was caused by wind, humidity, and water erosion over centuries. The Mushroom is surrounded by copper ore smelting sites from between the 14th and 12th centuries BCE.

Last, there another geological wonder and those are the arches. The Arches are natural arches formed by erosion, as well, and can be seen along the western cliff of the valley. Arches are not as rare as Solomon’s Pillars and the Mushroom; similar structures can be found elsewhere in the world. The walking trail that goes to the Arches also goes past the copper mine shafts.

]]> https://private-tours-in-israel.com/plate-tectonics-israel/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 13:45:30 +0000 http://private-tours-in-israel.com/?p=8934 Plate tectonics theory in Israel played a role in shaping the geological features and dynamics of Israel. However, it might not be as prominent as in other regions with more active tectonic activity. So here’s how plate tectonics apply to Israel! So beneath our feet lies a dynamic and mesmerizing phenomenon! Furthermore, it has shaped the face of our planet for millions of years! Plate tectonics. So imagine a giant jigsaw puzzle where colossal puzzle pieces constantly shift and interact, giving rise to the landscapes we know today. Let’s dive into the captivating world of plate tectonics!

What's a Horst?

The Puzzle Pieces: What Are Tectonic Plates?

The Earth’s outer shell lithosphere is divided into several massive plates, much like a cracked eggshell. These tectonic plates float atop the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. The plates are not fixed; they move, and their interactions are responsible for various geological phenomena.

The Dance of the Plates: Plate Boundaries The edges of tectonic plates are where the real action happens. There are three main types of plate boundaries:

Divergent Boundaries: Plates move away from each other, creating new crust as magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prime example of this phenomenon.

Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, and subduction usually forces one plate beneath the other. This can lead to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and even the formation of mountain ranges.

Plate Tectonics Theory In Israel – Transform Boundaries:

Plates slide past each other horizontally, often leading to intense seismic activity along fault lines. The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known example.

The Forces Behind the Motion: Mantle Convection The movement of tectonic plates is ultimately driven by the Earth’s internal heat. Heat-driven convection currents in the semi-fluid mantle create a dynamic system that propels the plates in various directions.

The Masterpiece: Earth’s Features The interactions at plate boundaries result in some of Earth’s most awe-inspiring features. From the towering Himalayas, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, to the vast Pacific Ring of Fire, known for its frequent volcanic and seismic activity, the planet’s landscapes are a testament to the power of plate tectonics.

Impacts on Life and Climate: Plate tectonics don’t just shape the land; they also influence the climate and evolution of life. The movement of continents can alter ocean currents, affect temperature patterns, and even influence species distribution across the globe.

Plate Tectonics Theory In Israel- Dead Sea Rift:

Israel’s most significant tectonic feature is the Dead Sea Rift, part of the larger East African Rift System. This rift is a divergent boundary where the African and Arabian plates slowly move away from each other. The rifting process has led to forming the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and the surrounding landscape. The Dead Sea Rift is responsible for the seismic activity in the region, including occasional earthquakes.

Transform Boundaries:

The boundary between the African and Arabian Plate that runs through the region also forms a transform boundary. This boundary is related to the movement of the Red Sea Rift, where the Arabian Plate is moving away from the African Plate. The movement along this boundary can lead to minor seismic activity.

Seismic Activity:

While not as active as some other tectonic regions, Israel does experience occasional earthquakes due to its location near the boundary between the African and Arabian Plates. These earthquakes are often related to the movement of faults along the Dead Sea Rift and its associated transform boundaries.

Plate Tectonics Theory In Israel – Geological History:

Furthermore, over millions of years, the interaction between the African and Arabian Plates has led to the uplift and folding of rock layers, contributing to the formation of mountain ranges and valleys in the region.

Mediterranean Ridge:

Last, the tectonic interaction between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate, although not directly affecting Israel, plays a role in the broader Mediterranean region’s geological dynamics, including forming the Mediterranean Ridge.

So, it’s important to note that while Israel is influenced by plate tectonics, the tectonic activity in the region is generally less intense than in areas along the Pacific Ring of Fire or other prominent tectonic boundaries. Nonetheless, the effects of plate movements have left their mark on the geology and landscape of Israel over geological time scales.

Tethys Ocean had played a mjor role in the Geology of Israel. The Tethys Sea is the name of an ocean which according to the Plate Tectonic Theory has existed in the past and separated the continents Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. Moreover, these continents split from the ancient continent of Pangea in the Jurassic Period. This ancient ocean has almost disappeared over the years, due to the movement of the plates in the Earth’s crust and the nearing of Europe, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Today the only remnant is the Mediterranean Sea.

The Ancient Sea Played An Important Role

The Tethys Ocean, a name shrouded in the mists of Earth’s distant past, was once a vast and vital expanse of water that played a crucial role in shaping the planet’s geological and biological history. This ancient ocean existed during the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic eras, stretching from the late Paleozoic to the early Cenozoic era, encompassing millions of years of Earth’s history.

Tethys Ocean played an essential role in the geology of the Land of Israel. Formerly, the Land of Israel was located in the depths of the Tethys Ocean. After exposure, the Sea swept the area, retreating and flooding the area several times in different eras. As a result, layers of sand and chalk formed above each other.

Plate Tectonics Theory In Israel

The Tethys Ocean and the land of Israel

These layered structures allow the formation of erosion craters such as the Negev Craters: Ramon Crater, the Small Crater, and the Large Crater. Evidence of the existence of the Land of Israel under Tethys Ocean is seen in the discovery of marine fossils in areas such as the Negev Desert, mainly in the craters. And in the Naftali Mountains, in the area of Manara Cliffs.

Echoes of an Ancient Realm

So the Tethys Ocean, an enigmatic and ancient water realm, represents a bygone era of Earth’s history. Its vastness and significance have left a profound mark on the geological narrative of our planet. While the Tethys Ocean may no longer grace our maps, it continues to captivate the imagination of geologists, paleontologists, and historians alike—reminding us of the ebb and flow of our dynamic planet and the ever-evolving story of life on Earth.

How Ramon Crater was formed? That’s a very interesting question! To answer that we’ll need to go back in time millions of years. The crater in Israel is a unique geological phenomenon. Craters like Ramon are formed in such a process are found only in the Negev and Sinai regions. They were formed by a long process lasting millions of years, which included rock sedimentation, folding, and weathering.  At first soft layers of land rock sediment, such as sandstone, were formed.

How Was Ramon Crater Formed? So after the region was flooded by the sea, harder marine rock sediments were formed above them, such as limestone.  An ancient geological fault caused the rock layers to buckle and fold, creating an anticline while the ocean still covered the region.

The rise of the anticline and retreat of the water caused the anticline to be exposed as an “island” in the sea.  The hard upper rock layers began to erode, exposing the soft layers underneath them.

Tethys Ocean

Rivers flowing westward left alluvium consisting of pebbles and sandstone. At a later stage, the anticline rose again, asymmetrically, inclining eastward to the Arava Valley due to the movement of the Great Rift Valley.

Some More On How Ramon Crater Was Formed

The river flowing on the ridge eastward eroded the soft layers of sandstone; the lift and incline enabled the sand layers at the heart of the anticline to empty quickly; thus creating the Makhtesh: A valley surrounded by tall cliffs, usually drained by a single stream.

So I hope I was able to answer the questions about how Ramon Crater was formed. And on my private guided tours of the Desert Negev, I promise you will get a much fuller explanation! Including visiting the visitor center of Ramon Crater Nature Reserve. The Tour there doesn’t take long but gives you a really detailed explanation of how is it formed. Including cool videos and more!

What Is a Graben in Geology? So, simply said a graben is an exact opposite of a Horst. In other words, a graben in Geology is a depressed block of the crust of planet earth bordered by parallel faults. To put it another way, a graben is a valley with a distinct escarpment on each side caused by the displacement of a block of land downward. Graben often occurs side-by-side with horsts. Horst and graben structures indicate tensional forces and crustal stretching. Graben are produced from parallel normal faults, where the displacement of the hanging wall is downward; while that of the footwall is upward. In fact, single or multiple graben can produce a rift valley.

Where Can We Find Graben In Israel?

One of the best examples to see an impressive graben is when I am on a private tour of the Sea of Galilee. There, next to highway 65, on our way, see the Ancient Galilee Boat suddenly, you can see the amazing Beit Netofa Valley. And if you are lucky and come in a good winter; So you will see the Beit Netofa Valley filled with water forming an impressive shallow lake.

The Valley is 16 km long and, on average, 3 km wide. A graben formed by two parallel east-west trending faults, running to its north and south. In fact, it lies between two horsts forming the Yodfat range to the north; and the Tur’an range to the south, basically, separating the heart of Galilee from the Nazareth area. Limestone hills to the east indicate karstic processes also shaped the valley.

If you Come In The Winter, You Might See A Beautiful Lake

In the winter the valley is full of water. As a result, a beautiful lake is filling the bottom of the valley. Actually, the reason for that is the soil. The valley soil is fatty clay relatively impermeable to water. Leading to seasonal floods in the winter. Already in the 14th century the medieval geographer, Al-Dimashqi mentions it.

So when I am giving private tours of Israel at some point or another we will find ourselves standing on a horst. But wait one second what is a horst anyway in Geology? So simply said a raised fault block (mountain) bounded normal faults. Another way to describe a horst would be, that is a raised block of Earth’s crust that has lifted. Or has  remained stationary while the land on either side has subsided (Graben)

Where Can We Find A Horst In Israel?

You would be surprised. But most people that go to Masada National Park do not know they are actually standing on what is officially a horst. In fact, this is what gave the Romans the victory over the Zealots at Masada. What do I mean? So when I am on a private tour of Masada; and I am standing with my group just over the Roman Ramp they understand exactly what I mean. In other words, Masada is officially what we can define as a Horst. Meaning a mountain that got elevated and as a result detached from its surroundings. So that is something you can already see from a distance. Also, that is why probably Herod the Great chose this location as a fortress in order to protect his kingdom.

When you climb Masada or take the cable car from the east you can see immediately how high Masada is (1,200 ft). But then when you reach the west side of Masada, the side the Roman decided to attack Masada, it seems you can almost jump down to the Ramp. Why? Simply because Masada, a geological horst has a natural inclination towards the west, in other words, it is leaning to the west side.

Graben (Geology)

So that is why climbing Masada from the west side is much easier actually. It’s about a 600 ft climb. And that is actually bringing me to my next question! Why did the Romans even bother attacking Masada? I mean what was the point of bringing 10,000 soldiers against mostly women and children? I guess in order to find the answer for that you will have to read my post about: Why Did Romans Attack Masada?

Mt. Tabor (Mt. of Transfiguration)

Another great example of a Horst in Israel is the famous Mt. Of Transfiguration. This is the traditional site where according to the New Testament Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory. I’m saying the traditional point because the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Luke, and Mark, do not really specify which mountain but only a “high mountain”. So next time on your private Christian tour in Israel; when you reach the Jezreel Valley and see Mt. of Transfiguration from a distance. Now you would know the reason why it is sticking out from the rest of the landscape.

Geology Tour of Israel