This reserve is explored via a very pleasant, circular hike along the Tananim Stream and its dammed-up lake. This Dam Trail is clearly marked. Taninim means crocodiles in Hebrew and there were crocodiles in this stream and its wetlands until the beginning of the 20th century. They were remnants of this areas’ once tropical environment. The two main aspects of interest in the reserve are the stream itself and dams built during the Roman-Byzantine period to create a large 6,000 dunam lake in the valley. Its aim was to raise the level of the water in the Tananim Stream to supply the large port city of Caesarea with additional water. The park is a refuge for endangered wetland plants. You will also pass a Roman stone quarry. There is no English brochure but aspects of the park are well described via signs in Hebrew and English. These are also the sources of the information described here.

In actuality, the dam did not produce enough of an elevation in the water level for water to flow by gravity to Caesarea and construction of the lower aqueduct was aborted. Although the aqueduct extends only 280 meters, kids can still play in its shallow water. Its maximum depth is 40 cm. (Note that it can also be slippery). The dam enabled the construction of 6 flour mills in the Byzantine period and 7 mills in the Ottoman period.

The wetlands were drained by Baron Edmond de Rothschild between 1922 to 1932. He intended developing this land for settlement. He also established a clay pipe factory here, although this was unsuccessful. The area he drained remains part of the reserve.

There is also a much longer Stream Trail which separates from the Dam Trail. This approaches the Arab village of Jist az-Zarqa and may be closed on occasion for security reasons.