Estuary of the Yarkon River, River estuary in northern Tel Aviv, Israel

The Yarkon River Estuary is the area in northern Tel Aviv where the Yarkon flows into the Mediterranean. Near the sea the river bends north, forming the Yarkoni Peninsula, which holds the old Maccabiah Stadium, the Tel Aviv Port and the Reading Power Station. The river is wide and shallow here, and the northern bank rises at Tel Kudadi.

Settlement at the Yarkon estuary dates to the 8th century BCE, when Assyrian remains were left on Tel Kudadi on the north bank. In 1917 the front line between British and Ottoman forces ran along the Yarkon; a first British crossing failed with heavy losses, and a second, on the night of 20 December 1917, succeeded at three points including the estuary, using rafts. Memorial pillars mark those crossing points.

The river mouth is woven into the daily life of northern Tel Aviv, where locals and visitors come to enjoy the waterfront and green spaces nearby. The mixture of salt and fresh water creates a distinct setting where different birds and animals pass through throughout the year.

Access to the area is from Tel Aviv's northern waterfront promenade, which connects to walking paths through Yarkon Park. The site is open year-round, but visiting is most pleasant during warmer months when water and weather conditions are favorable.

The meeting point of fresh and salt water creates specific ecological conditions that attract fish and waterfowl species rarely found elsewhere along the coast. This ecological blend allows visitors to spot animals that typically live in separate water environments side by side.