Hermon
| Hermon | ||
|---|---|---|
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| height | 2814 m | |
| location | Lebanon / Syria / Israel ( Golan Heights ) | |
| Mountains | Anti-lebanon | |
| Coordinates | 33 ° 24 '51 " N , 35 ° 51' 26" E | |
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| rock | lime | |
The Hermon ( Hebrew הר חרמון, AHL har Ḥermon ; Arabic جبل الشيخ, DMG ǧabal aš-šaiḫ , Palestinian - Lebanese - Syrian-Arabic žäbäl ə š-šēḫ ) is a 2814 m high mountain massif in the Middle East in the border area between Lebanon , Israel and Syria . The summit is the highest mountain in Syria. On its southwest flank is the highest point of the territories controlled by Israel with a height of 2224 m .
Geographical information
The Hermon massif stretches along the Syrian-Lebanese border for 25 kilometers in a southwest-northeast orientation. In the south the mountains end on the Golan Heights annexed by Israel . Anti-Lebanon continues in the northeast .
Due to its height, the Hermon collects considerable rainfall on its western flank, which feeds various sources. The three Jordan springs Hazbani , Dan and Banyas (also called Hermon River) have their source on the south and west side . The mountain is mostly made of limestone and volcanic rocks in between.
With its height of 2814 meters above sea level, the Hermon with its three peaks dominates the surrounding landscapes. The mountain is covered with snow for several months a year over 1,800 meters, which is why it is also known as the mountain of the old or the mountain of snow .
The highest point of the State of Israel according to the Israeli reading is at an altitude of 2224 m around 11.5 kilometers south-southwest of the Hermong summit.
Biblical references
According to the information in Dtn 3.9 EU , the Hermon was called Sirjon by the Sidonians and Senir by the Amorites in Old Testament times . The mountain is said to have formed the northern border of the great empire of Israel ; According to the representation in 1 Chr 5:23 EU , "half the tribe of Manasseh lived ... in the country ... up to Mount Hermon". When describing the territories conquered by Israel, the mountain also appears several times ( Jos 11.17 EU ; 12.1 EU ; 13.5 EU ). In Ri 3,3 EU there is a reference to the fact that there were pagan cults of the Canaanites (including Chiwwitern ) on the Hermon ; the mountain is called Baal-Hermon there .
In the New Testament , the Hermon only plays an indirect role. According to the presentation of the Gospels, Jesus stayed in Caesarea Philippi at the foot of the mountain ( Mk 8.27ff. EU and parallel passages ).
Occasionally the Hermon is also taken for the place of the transfiguration of Jesus ( Mt 17,1-13 EU ). However, the tradition mainly assumes that the Mount of Transfiguration was Mount Tabor on the eastern edge of the Jezreel plain .
Meaning for Israel
Military use
Until the Six Day War in 1967, the southwestern slopes of Mount Hermons belonged to Syria ; on June 10, 1967, these areas were conquered by Israel along with the Golan and annexed on December 14, 1981. For Israel, whose internationally recognized border runs at the foot of the mountain, the mountain is of considerable strategic importance. It mainly serves as an observation post for the Israeli military secret service Aman in large areas of western Syria. In the area of the southern flank there are therefore various facilities of the Israeli armed forces . Just below the summit is the base Hermon Hotel of the world's highest UN - base provided by UN soldiers as part of Operation UNDOF is busy (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force).
Drinking water reservoir
Civil use also plays a significant role. Israel obtains a large part of its drinking water via the Jordan from the surroundings of the mountain and does not want to lose control of these sources. The water supplies a comparatively rich vegetation and is used in agriculture , e.g. B. for viticulture .
Ski Area
The regular snowfalls in winter are also an important tourist attraction. The snow cover even allows downhill runs on skis in higher areas. Therefore a small winter sports area - the only one in Israel - could be established north of Majdal Shams on the Golan . It bears the name Hermon ski resort and is between 1600 and 2040 m altitude and comprises around 72 kilometers of slopes.
See also
Web links
- Georg Beer : Hermon 2 . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume VIII, 1, Stuttgart 1912, Col. 892 f.
- Pictures of the summit (panoramio) and the Hotel Hermons (Catholic military pastoral care )
- Homepage of the Hermon ski area (with photos, Hebrew) and English
Individual evidence
- ↑ Syria. In: CIA World Factbook. June 20, 2014, accessed July 8, 2014 .
- ↑ a b Israel at 65: A statistical glimpse. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April 1, 2013, accessed July 8, 2014 .
- ↑ Hermon Hotel - HH - the highest UN base in the world. Retrieved July 11, 2014 .
- ↑ Hermon ski resort. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014 ; accessed on July 8, 2014 .
- ↑ reisereporter, Hannover, Niedersachsen Germany: Skiing in Israel is an experience | reisereporter.de. Reisereporter.de, March 8, 2017, accessed on March 29, 2020 .