The Hexagon Pool (Hebrew: בריכת המשושים, Breichat HaMeshushim) is a natural pool by the Meshushim River in the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve, the central Golan Heights.
The pool, at the bottom of a canyon, is named after the shape of the hexagonal basalt columns that make up its walls. This geological formation was created by the slow cooling of layers of lava flows over a long period. When the lava solidified and cooled, it was split into polygonal shapes due to its contraction.[1][2]
Geology
editA cascade of water, such as a waterfall, created the pool. The walls are columns of basalt in angular formations that appear man-made. The columns reach a height of approximately 5 metres (16 ft), and most have five or six sides. The diameter of each column is between 30 and 40 centimetres (1.0 and 1.3 ft). Walls of basalt columns exist in other places in the Golan Heights, along the Meshushim and Zavitan Rivers.
Hiking
editThe easiest access is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) north of the community settlement of Had Nes on Route 888 where a junction leads to the Nature Reserve. From there a 30-minute downhill walk leads to the pool.
Access to the pool is normally allowed. The water temperature rarely exceeds 18 °C (64 °F), even in summer.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Meshushim Pool in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve". Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ Meshushim Stream Nature Reserve, Israel Nature and Parks Authority, accessed 16 June 2019
External links
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