Israel’s western coastline stretches along the Mediterranean Sea, from Rosh ha-Nikra in the north to the Gaza Strip in the south. Most of Israel’s population is concentrated in this area, bustling cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, rebuilt ancient towns such as Acre (Akko), Caesarea, and Ashkelon, or kibbutzim and rural communities, such as Ga’ash, Khavatselet ha-Sharon, and Neve Yam. Between the cities and towns are national parks and nature reserves.
The coastal plain is divided into six geographical sections from north to south:
- Galilee Coastal Plain: This section starts at Rosh ha-Nikra, on the Lebanese border. It is a fertile region that has one city – Nahariya - and many agricultural communities. Off the coast are many small islands and the coastline is dotted with ancient sites such as Tel Akhziv and nature sites such as the Rosh ha-Nikra cliff.
- Acre Coastal Plain: This next region heading south is crowded with urban communities - Acre and Haifa’s northern Krayot suburbs, but it also has wide agricultural areas.
- Carmel Coastal Plain: This region stretches from Rosh ha-Carmel in the north to Nakhal Taninim in the south. The soil here is rich, and many farming communities have been built around the region's major city, Haifa. This area has beautiful beaches and pre-historical sites such as Tel Shikmona and nature reserves, such as Dor ha-Bonim.
- Sharon Coastal Plain: Continuing southward this region is bordered on the south by the Yarkon River. This is Israel’s busiest and most densely populated area. It has a few nature reserves (Poleg and Nakhal Alexander) and important archaeological sites, such as Caesarea.
- Central Coastal Plain: This region stretches to Nakhal Shikma in the south. This region is also densely populated, with many cities such as Bat Yam and Rishon le-Tsiyon and a number of agricultural communities. Among the biblical and archeological sites in this area are Tel Ashdod and Tel Ashkelon. The nature reserves here include the Palmakhim Beach and Rekhes Gvar’am.
- Southern Coastal Plain: Also called the western Negev plain, this last section of the coastal strip and extends into the northern Sinai Desert. This region is divided into to sub-sections: the Bsor region in the northeast and the Agur-Khalutsa beaches in the south. The Bsor region is a savannah-type area dotted with a relatively large number of communities, with flowers and lush greenery in the spring. The Agur-Khalutsa beaches are a desert region with no towns or villages. The beaches are considered part of the Negev due to their climate, and attract particularly adventurous hikers.
