Besor

Besor, also known as Nahal Besor, is a wadi in southern Israel. The stream is a seasonal watercourse that drains parts of the western Negev and drains into the Mediterranean Sea along the Israeli coastline near the Gaza Strip.

Geography and hydrology: The Besor’s headwaters are in the eastern range of the Judean foothills and the central Negev. It flows westward through arid terrain, widening into a lowland valley before reaching the coast. Like many wadis in the region, Besor experiences flash floods during winter rainfall, with flows diminishing in the dry season.

Historical and biblical context: In the Hebrew Bible, the Besor (Brook Besor) is mentioned as a boundary in the land of the Philistines and is associated with events in the southern coastal plain. The identification of the modern Nahal Besor with the biblical Besor is a matter of scholarly discussion, but the name persists in local toponymy.

Ecology and conservation: The Besor watershed supports seasonal wetlands and habitats for birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Several protected areas and nature reserves along the stream protect its biodiversity and provide opportunities for hiking and nature study. The wadi's ecologically important flows depend on seasonal rainfall and runoff characteristics of the western Negev and coastal plain.