reservoirs
Banias Waterfall
The Banias Waterfall is located at the foot of Mount Hermon, in the northeastern Galilee region. It is fed by the Banias spring, a powerful karst spring flowing from the southern slopes of Hermon, with an annual flow of up to 100 million cubic meters of water. The Banias stream is the easternmost of the three main tributaries of the Jordan River.
In 1977, the area was declared a national park — the Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve.
The magnificent waterfall, about 10 meters high, is surrounded by lush vegetation, making it one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls in Israel.
Visitor information:
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Entrance fee: 36 NIS per person
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Opening hours: Summer – 8:00 to 17:00; Winter – 8:00 to 16:00 (last entry one hour before closing)
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Location: Golan Heights, about 15 minutes from Kiryat Shmona, on Road 99
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Facilities: bus access, café, and souvenir shops available near the entrance
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Swimming and entering the water are strictly prohibited
Visiting Banias combines breathtaking nature with history and is a must-see stop for travelers in northern Israel.
Along the stream runs a “hanging trail” about 100 meters long, leading visitors deeper into the canyon, right next to the roaring waterfall.
The site of Banias (Caesarea Philippi) has held sacred significance since ancient times. It was once a place of worship dedicated to the Greek god Pan, with a temple built around the spring. Later, under King Herod and Philip, the area transformed into a Greco-Roman complex and was renamed Caesarea Philippi. In the New Testament, Banias is mentioned as the place where the Apostle Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah.
The unique suspended walkway along the cliffs lets you feel the power of the stream up close. Around it, lush flora thrives — weeping willows, oaks, plane trees, ferns, and more — creating a refreshing green corridor that offers both shade and a sense of serenity.
Visiting Banias combines nature, history, and spirituality, making it one of Israel’s most remarkable national parks.
The Hanging Trail of Banias
In the heart of the city of Ramla, founded in the early 8th century by the Umayyad caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, lies one of the most impressive monuments of Islamic engineering in the Holy Land: the Underground Pool of Ramla, also known as the Pool of Arches or the Pool of St. Helena in Christian tradition.
The pool was built around 789 CE during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid. Its purpose was both practical and strategic: to collect and store rainwater and spring water for the residents of Ramla, then the capital of the province of Jund Filastin. The reservoir ensured a steady water supply during dry summers and times of siege, reflecting the ingenuity of early Islamic urban planning.
The underground cistern is an impressive rectangular chamber measuring about 30 by 18 meters, with a depth of nearly 9 meters. It is supported by 15 sturdy stone pillars and 16 arches, which not only strengthen the structure but also create a striking visual rhythm reminiscent of a subterranean basilica. The ceiling is pierced with several square openings through which water and light could enter.
The design was so solid that it has survived earthquakes and centuries of change, standing as a rare example of an early Abbasid public work preserved almost intact.
The Pool of Arches
During the Crusader period (12th century), the cistern remained in use and was associated in Christian tradition with St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, who was believed to have commissioned waterworks in the Holy Land. For this reason, Crusaders called it the “Pool of St. Helena,” and it was integrated into their urban infrastructure when Ramla served as an important waystation between Jaffa and Jerusalem.
Over the centuries, as Ramla declined, the cistern gradually fell into disuse. It was rediscovered and documented by European explorers in the 19th century. In the 20th century, after the establishment of the State of Israel, the site was restored and developed as a historical attraction under the care of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Today, the Pool of Arches is open as a museum-like site where visitors can descend into the cool underground space and even row small boats across its still waters. The experience offers not only relief from the heat but also a vivid encounter with the atmosphere of medieval Ramla.
Practical Information for Visitors
Location: Central Ramla, about 25 km southeast of Tel Aviv.
Opening Hours: 8 - 17:00 in Summer time 8 - 16:00 Winter time
Entrance Fee: 26 shekels
There is boat rides inside the cistern.
