Eilat's Coral Beach
Northernmost shallow water coral reef, possibly resilient to climate change.
Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve and Conservation area, a national park in Israel's Red Sea near Eilat, spans 1.2 kilometers of shoreline. It holds the distinction of being the world's northernmost shallow-water coral reef and is considered unusually resilient to climate change. Established by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, it draws divers and researchers. At its southern tip stands the Coral World Underwater Observatory, the first facility of its kind globally and the largest public aquarium in the Middle East. The New York Times listed it among its Places to Go in 2019. As of 2018, the reef is actively growing.
The Eilat reef is unique as the northernmost coral reef on Earth, located in the isolated Gulf of Aqaba, where higher salinity and limited water movement have fostered many endemic species. Historically, the reef stretched over 12 kilometers along the Gulf's western shore and parts of the northern coast, but human activity shrank it to a small area. By 1962, it was among Israel's three best-known nature reserves. The main Coral Beach Reserve was established in 1964, followed by the Eilat South Sea Nature Reserve in 2002, and the Coral Sea Nature Reserve in 2009. This is Israel's only coral reef.
Preservation and rehabilitation of the severely damaged reef are the reserve's core goals. Most of the lagoon is fenced off from the beach and marked with buoys from the sea, leaving only three shallow wading pools open to visitors, to prevent harm to corals and marine life. Feeding fish and animals is prohibited to avoid injuries from human food or plastic wrappers. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel organizes divers and volunteers to clean the beach and reef, removing debris and plastic that can smother corals, and leads guided tours. The reserve monitors coral and fish health and growth. To encourage reef expansion, iron and stone structures have been placed on the sandy seabed opposite the reef wall, mimicking natural coral formation sites and creating more habitat for reef dwellers.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Southern, Araba, Israel
- Nearest Town
- Eilat, Israel
- Length Km
- 5
- Established
- 1964
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The coral reef in Eilat is unique as the northernmost coral reef in the world, located in the isolated Gulf of Aqaba where salinity is higher and water movement is less than on most days, enabling the development of many endemic species. Historically, the reef covered the entire western shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and parts of the northern coast, extending over 12 kilometers, but human activities reduced it to a very small area. The natural reserve was one of the three best known natural reserves in Israel in 1962. The main reserve, Coral Beach Reserve, was established in 1964, followed by the Eilat South Sea Nature Reserve in 2002 and the Coral Sea Nature Reserve in 2009. The coral reef is the only coral reef in Israel.
Reader's Guide
The reserve was established with the main purpose of preserving and rehabilitating the reef in the Gulf of Aqaba, which was severely damaged over the years. Conservation activities include defining most of the lagoon area as protected and closed by a fence on the beach side and buoys from the sea side, preventing visitors from swimming there and harming corals and reef dwellers. Regulations prohibit feeding fish and animals to prevent harm from human food or accidental ingestion of plastic wrappers. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel sends divers and volunteers to clean the beach and reef, searching for debris and plastic packaging that can suffocate corals, and leads tours. The reserve monitors corals and fish to track their health and development. To encourage reef growth, iron and stone structures are scattered on the sandy bottom opposite the reef wall, simulating areas where corals usually form, providing more room for corals and living areas for reef dwellers. As of 2018, the Eilat coral reef is growing.
Did You Know?
- The reserve covers 1.2 kilometers of shore.
- It is the northernmost shallow water coral reef in the world.
- The Coral World Underwater Observatory, located at the southernmost point of the reserve, was the first of its kind in the world and is the largest public aquarium in the Middle East.
- The reserve was listed as one of The New York Times' Places to Go in 2019.
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