About the city of Be'ersheva and Carasso Science Park
Beersheba is located on the northern edge of the Negev desert and is often regarded as the “Capital of the Negev.” It is not high on the tourist path, but it should be. Worthwhile places to visit with the family include the Lunada Children’s Museum, which is a children’s museum of international caliber, Abraham’s Well International Visitors’ Center. which brings alive this forefather of the Jewish people, and the incredible Midbarium Desert Animal Park. Plus, Tel Beer Sheva National Park is only a few km from the city center and is a UNESCO world heritage site. All these places, plus others, are reviewed on this website.
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Beersheba is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel and is its eighth most populous city. It is home to the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Seroka Medical Center and has developed a reputation for high-tech.
Beersheba has a rich history due to its location along ancient trade routes and was an important hub for trade and commerce. Human settlement dates from the Chalcolithic period between 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Tel Be’er Sheva, now an archeological site some 4 Km from the modern city, was the town of Beersheba during the Israelite monarchal period.
Beersheba is mentioned in the Bible as being associated with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It lost its importance during the Muslim period. However, during the Ottoman period it served as an administrative center for the Bedouin and had a military garrison. Until World War I it was a mainly Arab city. It was allocated to the Arabs by the United Nations Partition Plan, but was conquered by the IDF. Following Israel’s War of Independence, the city experienced a population boom and thousands of Jewish immigrants moved here, many of whom had been displaced from Arab countries.
Carasso Science Park
Carasso Science Park is Israel's largest and most modern science museum. It was established in 2013, spans 17 dunams (approximately 4.2 acres), and offers a variety of interactive exhibits designed to engage visitors of all ages in scientific exploration.
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​The park features ten fully interactive exhibitions, a scientific children's playground, a beautiful water-jet fountain that you can control, a 3D printing lab, and a special toddlers’ area. A notable exhibition is the "A Glance at the Universe – the James Webb Space Telescope," which offers a fascinating review of the development of space observation, from early research to the advanced capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. Other exhibits include light and sound, genetics, communication, microelectronics, and nuclear energy.
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On the other hand, the exhibits are not dumbed down and the information imparted is very sophisticated. Even for an adult to read all the material in an exhibit can take considerable time.
Many school children from across the southern region arrive every year at the educational center, with the targeting of mainly elementary and junior high school students. The center tailors programming for each group to complement the school curriculum.
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Directions: Enter “Carasso Science Park” into Waze. There is a parking lot outside the museum with blue and white parking.
Admission: The museum is open Sunday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday closed and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their telephone number is 08-625 2600. This is their website.
Public transport: Enter “Carasso Science Park” into Waze. There is a parking lot outside the museum with blue and white parking.
Attractions in Be'ersheva on this website:
The Midbarium Desert Animal Park
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Abraham's Well International Visitors Center
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The Memorial to the Negev Brigade
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Tel Beersheva National Park​​
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