New Avital Volcanic Park in the Golan Heights

The Volcanic Golan

Looking out over the northern Golan, with a view of Mount Hermon,  is the Wasset Golan Tourism Center that serves as a venue of art, culture and entertainment on a site that was once a military installation. Here are restaurants, wine bar, spice shop, antique wood shop with olive oil carvings and art galleries. Adjacent to it are many sites of historical and geological interest in beautiful nature settings:

Open to the public for the first time at Passover, (Pesach 2013), the Avital Volcanic Park is a fascinating dormant geological volcanic site. It is an example of the explosive inferno that took place thousands of years ago that formed the black basaltic rocks of the Golan Heights. At this new park, built on an abandoned quarry, a model of a volcano allows you to visually experience a volcanic eruption. The park is also opened at night with a spectacular audio-visual illumination that lights up the sky. For instructions how to get there or for further information about Avital and the following sites, phone the Wassat Center for Golan Tourism: (04) 689-4774.

This area has many attractions that make for a great family day. Other places of interest in this area are:

• The Raven Park, Gan Oravim   located at the foot of the Raven Reservoir has eucalyptus groves, picnic facilities and a children’s playground. This is a lovely place to stop for a rest and from here there is a short walk on paths and small bridges that lead to the Emir’s Khan that was a summer palace of the Emir Faour.

 

• The Odem Forest, is made up of magnificent oak trees surrounding a  volcanic crater, the “juba”. In the fall there are beautiful orchids in bloom. There is a paved trail through the length of this park which makes it accessible for families with babies in strollers and the handicapped.

 

• The Sculpture Garden is made up of large sculptures by local artists who carved them out of the local volcanic black basalt rock at annual sculpture symposiums held at the site. There is also a carved wooden totem pole.

 

• The Autumn Grove at the Wasset site is made up of deciduous trees imported from European countries that in the fall take on myriads of beautiful colors.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Golan Basalt Winery, Batzelet Hagolan  offers a chance to tour the winery for detailed explanations and wine tasting.