Timna Park
About Timna Park
Covering 15,000 acres in a horseshoe-shaped valley, Timna Park is home to some of the world’s earliest copper mines that were once connected to Ancient Egypt. Archaeological findings in this area include thousands of mineshafts that were dug to extract the copper from deep inside the stone as well as remains of smelting furnaces.
Amazing Stone Formations
The desert landscape is dominated by awe-inspiring cliffs and unusual rock formations in shades of burnt red, pink and tan. Some of these bizarre natural rock formations take the shape of giant mushrooms, elegant pillars and delicate arches. The impressive Solomon’s Pillars are a natural part of the cliff wall. A short walk leads to a temple dedicated to the goddess of Hathor and an ancient engraving that depicts Ramses III making an offering to Hathor.
Wilderness Tabernacle
Timna Park is a perfect backdrop for the life-size replica of the biblical tabernacle that God instructed Moses to build. It is the only life size model of its kind in Israel. It contains every piece of furniture the original tabernacle had.
Other Interests
It is an excellent place for hiking, trekking, rappelling and wall climbing. It has an artificial lake built for recreational purposes with shaded seating areas, a playground and plenty of attractions for kids. It is also home to amazing wildlife, plants and trees. During the summer, the Park offers sunset and night tours.
Interesting Facts
- Copper was the first metal used by an ancient man to create work and household tools, weapons, religious artifacts and jewellery.
- By the park’s entrance is the Spiral Hill, a rock that seems to ‘climb’ up and around the rock into the sky, like a spiral staircase.
- Timna Park is apparently the only place in the world where a semiprecious “Eilat stone” (also known as King Solomon’s Stone) can be found. It is becoming more and more difficult to find due to the mine flooding and the designation as a national park and archaeological site.
