Negev

The Negev, also known as the Naqab in Hebrew and Arabic, is a desert region in southern Israel. It covers a large portion of the country’s land area and forms the southern half of the state. The region stretches from the Judean foothills in the north to the Red Sea coast near Eilat in the south, and from the Arabah valley to the Negev Highlands.

Geography and climate are defined by arid to semi-arid conditions, with hot summers, cool winters, and relatively low annual rainfall. The landscape includes canyons, wadis, limestone plateaus, and volcanic hills. Notable features include Makhtesh Ramon, one of the world’s largest erosion craters, and a variety of desert valleys and oases.

Historically, the Negev has been inhabited since antiquity. It contains Nabataean and biblical sites such as Avdat and Shivta, as well as ancient copper mines at Timna. In modern times it became a focus of Jewish settlement and state-building efforts, and today its towns host diverse communities, including Bedouin populations in the northern and central parts of the region.

Economy and development center on adapting arid land to productive use. Drip irrigation and other water-conserving farming techniques support agriculture in parts of the Negev. The region is also a site for solar energy projects and research institutions, notably Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba. Tourism centers on desert landscapes, national parks, and archaeological sites, attracting visitors to places like Ramon's crater and desert circuits.