A hike in the Metzudat-Yam Ashdod Ecological Park

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Just above the seashore is the Metzudat-Yam Ashdod Ecological Park. This can be started at either the main entrance to the park by the Ashdod-Yam Citadel or at its far end by the Be’er Sheva Beach. Since the hike is circular, the advantage of starting by the Be’er Sheva beach is that you can end your hike with a swim.

 

The purpose of this park is primarily educational and related to its flora. You will be walking along a unique habitat of sand dunes with has plants that have adapted to the extreme conditions here. These include a high salinity, strong winds, bright sunlight, drifting sand that can expose roots and cover leaves, and lack of water. Despite these conditions, agriculture was once carried out in this area in the past.

 

There are two loop trails – one is a blue-marked Coastal Pathway above the beach that returns via the beach itself and covers the full length of the park. Another loop is via an orange-marked Gazelle Pathway that starts at the Ashdod-Yam Citadel and covers about half the length of the park. This also links up with the Coastal Pathway and if you wish it is possible to do a loop on both pathways that covers the full length of the park. However, most of the interesting things are on the Coastal Pathway and the Gazelle Pathway does not really add much (unless you are a gazelle).

 

• Using the map at either entrance to the park, decide what loops you would like to do. All the paths are clearly indicated by wooden poles. On the Coastal Pathway you will come to two artificial wetlands and an orchard showing how agriculture was once carried out here. The Orchard Pathway is marked green, but joins up with the blue-marked trail at either end.

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The Ashdod-Yam Fortress

This fortress is located just before the entrance to the ecological park. It was built In the Muslim Umayyad period at the end of the 7th CE. The Muslims had defeated the Byzantines but there was concern that the Byzantines would attempt to recapture territory from their center in Constantinople. They therefore set up a series of fortresses built along the coast that functioned as early warning stations. They could contact each other by bonfires during the night and smoke during the day. The fortress was built by Caliph Abd al-Malik, the same who built the Dome of the Rock.

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This fortress was built on the ruins of a Byzantine settlement. It has a rectangular structure, with massive stone walls built of local kurkar (calcareous sandstone). The walls were thick and high and designed to resist both land assaults and naval attacks. There was a single entrance, which was typical of early Islamic and medieval coastal forts where limiting access was a key defensive principle. The gap in the western wall is due to destruction. Corner towers and towers over the gate reinforced vulnerable points and provided elevated vantage points. The enclosed courtyard likely contained barracks for soldiers, storage rooms for food, weapons and supplies and wells.

 

It was conquered and reconstructed by the Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries, and continued in use until the Mamluke period when it was abandoned. The nearby port was destroyed during the Muslim period to prevent it being used by the Crusaders.

 

The city became covered in sand, but the fortress has been recovered. You can climb up to an observation area. There iis no admission charge. It is open throughout the week from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. It is sometimes used in the evenings for concerts.