Hi,
We listened to Haaretz newspaper suggestion to a weekend hike with the kids, and visited Tel Afek (part of Yarkon national park)
The place is not far away from us, as it is near Rosh Ha’Ayin (which named after the place, Head of Springs). Those are the springs of The Yarkon river we spent most of our sport and leisure time on its banks (here, here and here)
The water from the spring were pumped to Jerusalem since the British Mandate over Israel (now the water to Jerusalem are coming from the Kinneret or from the distillation facilities).
The small stream, that still flows is fed from aquifer drilling. It is a great activity for kids and adults. Quite similar to what there is in En Hemed.
The springs that flow here were the reason the place was populated most of the history. The springs and Yarkon stream that flow west from here created a hard to pass area. And a small passage was left – east of it and to the mountains. That is why the old sea route (Via Maris) had to cross here.
The Roman city that set here was called Antipatris, Herod the great built it on the name of his father. You can walk along the Cardo, the main commercial street of the city.
Near it is Binar Bashi (Head of springs) fortress standing of top of a small Tel (Tel Afek). It was built in 1572 over an The Egyptian governor’s residence and an ancient The Canaanite Palace . It also called Antipatris fortress although it was built later.
The other part of Yarkon National park is Yarkon sources area we had visited last year.
Take Care
Gad
Paddling pools, walking on those for a couple of hundred meters cool us down and allow us to keep going the the rest of the site.
The artificial lake that gathers the stream water
The lake and above it the fortress
Fish in the lake. In the past the are was swamps and the Fauna was different.
The downhill grass that hosts evening concerts
A bird on a stick in the middle of the lake
The Yarkon Labnon, an almost extinct endemic fish specie that was breed in captivity and released to lakes and streams
Tel Afek fortress from below
The fortress walls were built from outer chiseled rocks and the void was filled with smaller stones
Running into Tel Afek fortress and sign at the entrance
Inside South corner tower (The fortress in a shape of square, there are four towers each in every corner)
Looking west
Looking East over the Afek pass. On the other side there is Migdal Tzedek (tower of justice) fortress. Even today one or two longitudinal railway of Israel, and one of two longitudinal highways.
The west gate to the fortress
What is left of the west corner
The Egyptian governor’s residence, that was buried under the fortress court
A model of the residence
Signs in the residence
The Canaanite Palace, that was also buried under the fortress court
A sign in the entrance to the park
The British pump house
The chlorination structure for the water that were pumped here
The filtering pools for the water that have been pumped
Under the pools”Here lives Mr Fox and his family, please do not interrupt”
The British Pump house
The Cardo meets the fortress, Along the Cardo and the columns heads that were found here