The main desert in Israel is the Negev. It is approximately 12,000 square kilometers, more than half of Israel's total land area. Other important desert areas are the southern Judean Mountains (west of the Dead Sea) and the Arava valley (south of the Dead Sea and east of the Negev). All have been defined by the Jordan rift valley, caused by the separation of the continental plates.
For 20 years I have hiked and biked trails in these deserts. You can only appreciate these deserts from the ground and away from the roads. They are full of surprises: sudden drops into wadis with huge cliffs, water falls and holes, patches of colourful flowers in spring, dramatic rock formations, and lone trees. The desert is best photographed in morning and evening light, and in winter storms.
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