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| Newsletter 8 November 2003 Download Archive |
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| NEWS & EVENTS | |
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| Introduction to Upper Galilee The Upper Galilee region shares borders in the east with the slopes of the Golan Heights; in the north, with the mountains of Lebanon; in the west, with the Naftali mountains, the mountains of the central Galilee and the slopes of Mt Cnaan and in the south, with the Amiad-Farod highway. The region, with its varied topography of mountains and valleys (with snow at least once a year on most mountains and for 3-5 months on the Hermon Mountain, highest in Israel, and hot valley at sea level – the Hula Valley) varies in its population too. The Galilee region is the main resource of water for Israel with many streams (during the summer too), green area and wildlife. It includes the Hula Valley, where many birds rest during their travel to and from Europe to Africa. The Hula Valley is an ecological entrance funnel for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. Most of them fly on towards East and South Africa. Many cranes, in the meantime, spend the winter in the Hula Valley. The sleeping places of the cranes are situated in the protected areas of the Hula Valley, but they find their food on the peanut and corn fields in the surrounding areas. For this reason farmers have to reckon with heavy losses, especially when the crops are harvested. The Galilee is of immeasurable important to the international bird world, not only as a bird migratory route but also as a resting place and for winter quarters. In the other countries of the Near and Middle East migratory birds are still shot down and, more important resting places like marshland and wooded areas are being destroyed. At least 70,000 while pelican rest here every year on their way to Sudan; some of the large beaked birds even spend the winter there. The region was an agricultural district for many years and only recently more industrial plants are built (in addition to food processing factories). It includes rural and urban communities, Jews, Christians, Moslems and Druze and different kinds of settlements – from Kibbutzim to Arab villages and towns. Most of the Hula Valley was covered with swamps until the 50s, when it was dried and transferred to agricultural land. 
Population: The population of the council numbers approximately 15,400 residents (according to the population register, correct as of 12/00). The Council is active in increasing its population and absorbing a young, high quality population. Number of settlements: 29 kibbutzim and the Hermon Field School. 22 of the kibbutzim are “confrontation line” settlements, 10 of these are frontline settlements. Business Clusters identified by the Regional Council · Mining and quarrying · Manufacture of food products · Manufacture of soft and alcoholic beverages and tobacco products · Manufacture of textiles · Manufacturing of wearing apparel (except knitted) · Manufacture of footwear, leather and leather products · Manufacture of wood and wood products (excluding furniture) · Manufacture of paper and paper products · Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products · Manufacture of plastic and rubber products · Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products · Manufacture of metal products (excluding machinery and equipment) · Manufacture of machinery and equipment · Manufacture of industrial equipment for control and supervision, medical and scientific equipment · Manufacture of transport equipment · Manufacture of furniture · Manufacture of biotechnological products, cosmetics and pharmaceutics · Agriculture · Tourism |
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