The Israeli resort is located 395 meters below sea level in the African-Syrian Rift in the east of the country. The town is one large health complex, perched on a hill along the spring that gave the town its name, Ein Bokek. Its convenient location is an added bonus when choosing a vacation spot for tourists: an hour and a half drive and you're already in Jerusalem, or 30 minutes later in the nearby city of Arad.
The resort town is relatively small - the population of Ein Bokek is about 1,400. But the general area has more than a dozen hotels, 3 large shopping centers, and one clinic.
The national currency is the new shekel (ILS).
Ein Bokek: a bit of history
The Judean hills that surround the town have been witness to biblical stories, and archaeologists are convinced that Ein Bokek was founded in ancient times, and many thousands of years ago, hunters stopped here in pursuit of their prey. The resort is also known from the texts of the Bible, as it is the location of Mount Sodom.
Hebrew prophets and Christian monks, John the Baptist, King David, Jesus Christ walked this land, giving it a special energy and enriching it with sacred meaning.
The findings confirmed by historians shed light on the city's original purpose: Ein Bokek was fortified by Roman forts to protect caravans carrying precious salt. The first medical factory operating in ancient times was also discovered here.
