Israel’s beautiful nature, in photographs

One of Israel’s ancient names is the “Land of the Gazelle,” a reminder that this country’s identity is rooted not only in its people and history, but also in its incredible natural landscapes and biodiversity.

In honor of Yom HaAtzmaut, we put together a list of 77 things we love about Israeli nature. From desert blooms to coastal cliffs, these are the places and species that inspire the work at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).

Take a look and let us know what you would add. We’d love to hear your favorites.

1. The Israeli mountain gazelle – and Jerusalem’s Gazelle Valley Park, home to 115 of these graceful animals and the best place to see them.
2. The Israel National Trail – according to National Geographic, one of the world’s 20 most epic trails.
3. Our place in the world – the meeting point of and land bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe, the reason behind our diverse nature.
   
4. The Calanit (crown anenome) — Israel’s national flower, whose scarlet blossoms turn fields red every winter.
5. Israel’s other 2,800 species of flora, including many unique to the country.
6. Mount Hermon – our highest peak, nearly 3,000 meters high (over 9,000 feet) covered by snow in winter.
7. The Persian Fallow Deer – reintroduced to nature after nearly a century.
8. Eilat’s coral reefs – and their amazing marine life.
9. Professor Yossi Leshem – Israel’s legendary protector of birds, former CEO and chair of SPNI.
10. Barn Owls – uniting Israelis, Jordanians, Palestinians, Moroccans, Greeks, Cypriots, Swiss, Germans, Georgians, and Ukrainians in biological pest control.
11. The “Wings of Eagles” – as commonly translated in the Bible. In modern times, a “nesher” is a vulture.
12. Machtesh Ramon — “Ramon Crater” in English, but technically it is an erosion cirque, not a crater.
13. Almond trees – with their stunning pink blossoms.
14. Jeremiah the prophet – history’s first ornithologist, due to his knowledge of bird migration.
15. Jerusalem’s Western Wall – the world’s oldest known swift nesting site!
16. Hoopoes – Israel’s national bird, elected in an SPNI organized campaign in 1995.
17. Jungle Cat – one of three remaining species of wildcats in Israel.
18. And the Hubara Bustard – one of our rarest birds, and the best dancers.
19. The Army for the Protection of Nature – a collaboration of SPNI with the IDF.
20. Israel’s 400-strong network of nature reserves and national parks.
21. Azaria Alon and Amotz Zehavi – patriarchs of Israel’s environmental movement and co-founders of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel in 1953.
22. The Hula Nature Reserve – Israel’s first, declared in 1956.
23. The partially reflooded Hula Valley – which attracts 40,000 cranes to spend the winter, in turn drawing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to northern Israel’s most popular and economically important tourism attraction.
24. The Dead Sea – the lowest place on earth and a geological wonder.
25. Salt marshes – SPNI has rewilded part of Eilat’s ancient salt marsh, leading to the reappearance of endangered plants like Monoecious Seablite.
26. Winter pools – special seasonal wetlands are home to many unique plants, invertebrates and amphibians.
27. Desert wadis – and that moment when they flow again.
28. The International Birding and Research Center Eilat – home to Freddy, the world’s only known black flamingo, and a fantastic place to visit.
29. The Painted Saw-Scaled Viper – one of Israel’s 41 snake species. A deadly ambush predator that lies in wait for exhausted migrating birds.
30. Eilat — a crucial service station for migrating birds.
31. The Nili and David Jerusalem Bird Observatory – 31 years of peaceful bird monitoring next to the Knesset (Israel’s parliament).
32. Nubian ibex that can climb up and down seemingly impossible cliff faces…
33. … And others who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle, like the Rock Hyrax, at SPNI’s Ein Gedi Field School.
34. The Common Blue – Israel’s national butterfly, winning the 2023 competition due to blue and white wings that won it overwhelming student support.
35. Sinai hooktail dragonfly — found for the first time in Israel in 2024 during a Bioblitz citizen science survey.
36. SPNI’s network of Field Schools, from the Hermon to Eilat, that enable Israeli families to experience nature.
37. Professor Heinz Steinitz – who compromised his principles in 1955 to save Israel’s corals by signing his name to an affidavit stating that corals are fish.
38. The Mediterranean Sea, its waters, beaches, rock pools and kurkar ridges.
39. Evtach –Israel’s first marine protected area, established in 2022, as a result of SPNI’s policy work.
40. Followed by the first marine national park off Caesarea, founded last year.
41. Bottlenose and Common Dolphins – pods of both can be found off Israel’s coast.
42. Israeli Climatech – a rich hi-tech ecosystem working to develop technological solutions to the most pressing global problems.
43. Startup Nature – SPNI’s flagship rewilding project restoring Israel’s historic wetland habitats. Over 200 species were seen at these sites during 2024.
44. The Nile Wisp– previously thought to be extinct, but now established at SPNI’s Kfar Ruppin Rewilded Wetlands.
45. The Jordan River – Israel’s most iconic waterway, sorely in need of rehabilitation.
46. The Sea of Galilee – freshwater lake, not really a sea.
47. Desalination technology — creating the opportunity to redirect natural water sources back to nature.
48. Gamla – where you can gaze down on soaring vultures.
49. Raptor Nest Cam – where you can enjoy watching nesting vultures and other birds of prey from the comfort of your home!
50. Community gardens – creating pockets of nature across the country
51. The “Don’t pick the Wildflowers” campaign, launched by SPNI in the 1960s, led to a cultural change to ensure the survival of many of these species
52. The Methuselah Date Palm – revived after hundreds of years by the Arava Institute.
53. Olive trees – an international symbol of peace.
54. Green Turtles — that lay their eggs on Israel’s beaches each summer.
55. Softshell Turtles — which can be spotted sunbathing on rocks along rivers.
56. The Banias Springs — a popular summer destination to cool off.
57. Kingfishers – Israel is home to three species – common, white-breasted, and pied – the only place in the world where these birds coexist.
58. The Palmachim disturbance – an underwater ecosystem, home to deep-sea corals, shark nurseries, and more treasures yet to be discovered.
59. Ashkelon’s dunes – the northernmost outpost of the Sahara Desert.
60. Eurasian otters – Israel is the southernmost place to find these gorgeous creatures.
61. Egyptian mongoose– venom-resistant mammals, sometimes mistaken for otters, at home in our rewilded wetlands.
62. The Hula painted frog – rediscovered after 50 years
63. Golden jackals – familiar sights in Tel Aviv’s Park HaYarkon, especially at dawn and dusk.
64. Ruti the Hyena – Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut’s celebrity icon and an international sensation
65. Yulia, the monk seal – her sunbathing caused a stir in summer 2023.
66. Roni Milo– Israel’s first minister of the environment, appointed in December 1988.
67. Champions of the Flyway – 10 years of uniting birders from around the world to raise funds for conservation along the African-Eurasian Flyway while competing to identify the most species in 24 hours
68. The Orange Ariel – a butterfly renamed in memory of murdered hostage Ariel Bibas.
69. Whale sharks – the Earth’s biggest fish and a rare visitor to the Gulf of Eilat.
70. European bee-eaters – colorful birds, agile aerial hunters.
71. Bats – Israel is home to 33 species of these flying mammals.
72. Bears, lions and leopards – our now extinct apex predators.
73. Nature’s healing power – harnessed through SPNI’s Nature Heals eco-therapy program that has helped over 110,000 Israelis.
74. Dam HaMaccabim (Blood of the Maccabees) — Israel’s memorial flower, its blood red flowers symbolizing the blood of our brave soldiers who have fallen protecting this extraordinary land.
75. The Ayalon Cave – this cave and its isolated ecosystem, discovered in 2021, remind us that there is so much more to find.
76. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel – protecting all this since 1953.
77. And you … because the future of Israeli nature depends on people who care.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) works every day to protect the country’s landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems. At Nature Israel, we’re proud to support that mission from here in the United States. If you believe that Israel’s nature deserves protection, we invite you to be part of this effort—by learning more and sharing what you love.

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If our work speaks to you, we invite you to support SPNI with a donation. Your gift helps protect the wild spaces and wildlife that make Israel so unique.

This year, there is also a new way to connect. For the first time in 20 years, SPNI is offering English-language day trips. Join us for guided hikes, regional deep-dives, and world-class birdwatching led by experts from Israel’s leading environmental organization. We also offer a free webinar series, and past events are available to watch and share on our website as well. These experiences get you up close and personal with Israeli ecology and offer a deeper understanding of its role in global biodiversity. 

Thank you so much for your support which helps all life in Israel – two-legged, four-legged, winged, scaled and all things that live and grow.