Eilat, Resort city in southern Israel.
Eilat sits at the southern tip of Israel, where the country meets the Red Sea in a narrow coastal strip between Egypt and Jordan. The bay is framed by barren mountains that drop directly to the shore, with beaches, port facilities, and built-up areas lining the waterfront.
Settlements in this area date back to the seventh millennium BC, with evidence of copper mining and trade routes linking Egypt and Arabia. The modern town grew rapidly after the establishment of Israel in the mid-20th century, becoming the country's southern gateway and later a Red Sea resort.
The Hebrew name refers to the pistachio tree or terebinth, reflecting the vegetation of this arid region. Residents and visitors often gather along the waterfront in the late afternoon, when the heat softens and the light changes over the desert hills.
Ramon International Airport offers several daily connections to other Israeli cities and seasonal international flights. Bus services run regularly northward, and most hotels and beaches are arranged along the main road that runs parallel to the coast.
The fringing reef along the shore extends for more than a thousand meters and supports over a hundred coral species and more than six hundred and fifty fish species. Divers and snorkelers can explore this underwater world just a few meters from the beach.
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