Eilat is Israel's southernmost town. Eilat is located at the tip of the Negev
Desert, between the borders of Egypt and Jordan. Eilat is a port on the Red Sea's
Gulf of Aqaba. Eilat is mainly known as a resort town. Points of interest
include the Coral World Underwater Observatory, which has a viewing room built
within a coral reef; the Coral Reserve, a protected offshore nature park with
outstanding scuba and skin-diving sites; and Dolphin Reef, where swimmers can
observe dolphins and other sea creatures at close range. Eilat has a growing number
of luxury hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas.
Industry is also important
in Eilat. Oil from Egypt is piped through Eilat to refineries in 2 Israeli cities,
Ashqelon and Haifa, which are located on the Mediterranean Sea. Eilat also serves
as a loading port for mineral exports extracted from the Dead Sea.
In order
to stimulate economic activity in Eilat, Israel designated the area a free trade
zone in 1985 which eliminated to a great extent taxation on production and commerce.
Eilat is accessible by air and road from Jerusalem; direct flights also link the
Eilat's small airport to many European cities.
The history of Eilat is rich
given its location on the land route of armies and pilgrims passing between Africa,
Europe, and Asia. In the 10th century BC, during King Solomon's reign, the port
of Etzion Geber was built in the area. During the European military expeditions
known as the Crusades, Christians took control of the area. In the 1160s, Muslim
military leader Saladin seized the region. In subsequent years the port declined.
In 1906, the British established a military post called Umm Rashrash in what is
now Eilat. In 1922 the area became part of the British mandate over Palestine,
which lasted until Israel was created in 1948. Following the 1956 Sinai War with
Egypt, Israel started to develop the port of Eilat and officially established
the city in 1959.
Eilat is Israel's only outlet to the Red Sea and the Indian
Ocean. Israel created an important naval base in Eilat to protect Israeli shipping
interests. In 1967 Egypt's president Nasser blocked the entrance to the Gulf of
Aqaba, called the Strait of Tiran. This blocked all shipping to and from Eilat.
This blockade was one of the factors that led to the 1967 Six-Day War.
A peace
treaty was signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979, and between Israel and Jordan
in 1994. These developments have generated joint Egyptian-Israeli-Jordanian talks
concerning environmental and commercial cooperation in the area of Eilat.
Information from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and Microsoft's Encarta '95.
back to top of page
back
to Tour of Israel
~ Lisa
Katz
More
Articles
