'''Mitzpe Ramon''' (???? ????; [http://www.mitzpe-ramon.muni.il/]) is a small town in the Negev region of Israel, some 85 km south of Beer Sheva, overlooking the mighty '''Ramon Crater''' (''Machtesh Ramon'').

Understand

Founded in the 1950s as a military outpost and then as a waypoint station for local miners and road workers, Mitzpe evolved into a small town when newly arrived Moroccan immigrants were unceremoniously placed there and told that they would "be living an hour and half from Tel Aviv." Over time, various other groups like part of the "Black Hebrew" community and various strains of the most recent Russian immigration from the early 90's, have also been placed in Mitzpe Ramon.

Mitzpe Ramon remains small and somewhat struggling, although recently a variety of new age hippies and eco entrepreneurs have succeeded in turning the ailing town into something of a hip eco leave-the-city-behind destination. At the same time, there continues to be dissonance between some of the town's original residents and the more recent arrivees.

Today, Mitzpe acts as a stopping point for travelers going from the North of Israel to Eilat as well as catering to soldiers stationed at the nearby military bases. The town has also developed into a unique eco-tourist destination as it boasts the highest air quality in Israel and a series of breathtaking landscapes. Mitzpe also provides a haven for various kinds of performance artists, new-age healers and desert enthusiasts.

Get in

Highway 40 passes through Mitzpe Ramon on its way from Beer Sheva to Eilat. The town is some 85 km south from Beer Sheva.

There are buses from Beer Sheva more than once an hour, and buses from Eilat several times a day.

Get around

The town is best covered on foot or by car. Within the crater, your choices are slowly and painstakingly on foot, bonejarringly by 4x4, or, oddly enough, '''by llama''' hired out from the Alpaca Farm.

  • <listing name="GuideHorizon" address="27 Har Boker Indastrial Zone POB.560" phone="+972-8-659-5333 or Cell. +972-523690805" email="" fax="+972-8-659-5317" hours="" price="" url="http://www.guidehorizon.com/index.php">Offers 4X4Tour-Sleep-Spa.</listing>
  • See

    Mitzpe Ramon's biggest sight is the '''Ramon Crater''' (''Machtesh Ramon''), 500 meters deep, 40 kilometers long, 10 kilometers at its widest, and claimed to be the largest in the world. This is not, however, an asteroid impact site: just a particularly large asymmetrical hole dug out of the ground by natural processes of erosion. The Ramon Crater is the largest of three Negev craters, containing geological formations unlike those you would see anywhere else in the world. Together with a magnificent panorama, it presents a fascinating story of geomorphologic evolution. The Ramon Nature Reserve which encompasses the crater and the Negev mountains surrounding is the largest nature reserve in Israel.

  • Ramon Crater. (see above)
  • Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center. Located at the edge of the crater, this affords stunning views over the area and has a small and informative museum documenting the geological and natural history of the area - a large picture window in the centre affords visitors a breathtaking view of the crater itself.
  • The Albert Promenade. A trail decorated with impressive environmental sculptures - starts from the Visitors Center and goes along along the edge of the Ramon Crater. In the middle of the promenade there is a "bird balcony" which hangs above the crater and offers the best view around over the crater. Visitors can see birds flying under their feet rather than over their head. After the paved trail ends, a path continues along the crater edge and leads to a small observation platform installed atop of a rock resembling a camel.
  • Bio Ramon. A museum showcasing the wildlife of the desert and the crater. The rich collection of desert plants and animals displayed is divided into two parts: an indoor interpretation centre and an outdoor area reconstructing the Negev desert landscape, with desert loess, hamada, sand, cliffs, riverbeds and even a small spring.

  • Ramon desert tours. itzpe Ramon. ttp://www.machtesh-ramon.com/.

    Do

    '''Treks''' of various lengths can be arranged in and around the crater. There are many strange rock formations in odd colors to be seen, as well as desert animals including the nearly tame '''ibex''' who congregate around tourists, looking for handouts.

  • Desert Archery. ttp://www.desertarchery.co.il/.
  • Karkom - Jeep Tours in the Negev. ttp://www.negevjeep.co.il/.
  • Negev Jeep Tours. ttp://www.shunra.net/peter.html. Jeeptours with Dutch, Swiss-German, German and English speaking guides
  • Astronomy - Tel Aviv University's Wise Observatory. ttp://wise-obs.tau.ac.il/index.html. Tel Aviv University's Wise Observatory is here. The

    Drink

  • Hahavit. Hahavit, near the Visitors Center has everything you need to quench your thirst.

    Sleep

  • le chocolat. ar boker 13/ 02. 86595332. echocolat@walla.com. 0. 8. coffee and belgian homemade chocolateshop with a nice warm atmosphere animations for group around chocolate some evening high quality live music</sleep>
  • Silent Arrow. 972-(0)52-6611561. ilent_Arrow@hetzbasheket.com. oderate. ttp://www.hetzbasheket.com/index_eng.htm. An alternative hostel experience of tents in the silent, starry desert at a moderate price.
  • Isrotel Ramon Inn. Ein Akev St. Mitzpe Ramon. 972-8-6588822. 972-8-6588151. igh. ttp://www.isrotel.co.il/English/Content/HotelPage.asp?HID=6. The local luxury hotel.
  • Club Ramon. 972-8-6586168. otel@club-ramon.co.il. 972-8-6586107 . oderate. ttp://www.club-ramon.co.il/. A decent place to stay at moderate prices. Five floors of rooms.
  • Camp sites within the Crater.

    Get out