Hexagon Pool

The Hexagon Pool, known in Hebrew as Breichat HaMeshushim, sits at the bottom of a canyon within the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve in the central Golan Heights. Its name comes from the hexagonal basalt columns lining the pool’s walls—a formation that resulted when thick lava flows cooled slowly over time, contracting and splitting into polygonal shapes.

The Meshushim Stream, which feeds the pool, runs roughly 20 kilometers from the northern Golan Heights down to the Sea of Galilee. Natural springs and tributaries like the Zavitan and Katzrin streams supply its lower sections, but artificial reservoirs near its headwaters, part of the region’s extensive water management systems, significantly alter its natural flow. The surrounding Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve is slowly recovering from historical deforestation, especially during the Ottoman era. The canyon and trail are dotted with Mediterranean plants, including Mount Tabor oak, officinal storax, Atlantic pistachio, Syrian ash, and Christ’s thorn jujube. Near the water, oleander and willows grow. The steep eastern cliffs provide nesting spots for various birds.

Geologically, the pool was carved by a waterfall. Its walls are made of angular basalt columns that appear almost man-made, reaching about 5 meters high. Most columns have five or six sides, though four- and seven-sided ones also appear. Each column is 30 to 40 centimeters in diameter. Similar columnar basalt walls exist elsewhere in the Golan, along the Meshushim and Zavitan Rivers. This structure is an example of columnar jointing, where cooling lava contracts symmetrically. The pool itself is about 6 to 7 meters deep at its deepest point.

Swimming is allowed only for experienced swimmers, as no lifeguards are on duty. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority bans eating near the water, diving, and access to shaded sections of the pool due to rockfall risks, all to protect both visitors and the ecosystem.

The easiest access is 2.5 kilometers north of Had Nes on Route 888, where a junction leads to the reserve’s main entrance. The site is open year-round, though water temperature rarely exceeds 18°C, even in summer. Several trail options exist. The standard short route involves a 30-minute downhill walk with about 400 stone steps, dropping 130 meters into the canyon.