News

Israel - Pedal Power on the Dead Sea

by News from the Wires

Pedal Power to Vote for the Dead Sea ...

...as One of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

The annual Tour de Dead Sea, a cycle race along the contours of the Dead Sea, will take place for the fifth time this year on 5 March 2011 with over one thousand cyclists from Israel and overseas cycling in support of the Dead Sea’s candidacy in the finals of the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

The cyclists – amateurs and professionals from Israel, Jordan and overseas – will be joined by families, tourists and locals in this colourful race which takes place amid the breathtaking primordial scenery of the lowest place on earth. The participants will also vote for the Dead Sea as one of the finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature online global campaign which will end on 11.11.11.

For the first time, cyclists will be able to ride to the historic Beit Ha’Arava, the King Abdullah bridge and Qasr el Yahud, the site on the Jordan River where, according to Christian legend, Jesus was baptised. Participants will be able to choose from four different routes along the Dead Sea, with professional riders enjoying two of the finest routes in Israel: 65 kilometres on- road, or 45 kilometres off-road from the Dragot cliffs, over the He’Etekim cliffs and down to Kalia beach.

Amateur cyclists and families can enjoy the 25 kilometre on-road route from Kalia beach, through Beit Ha’Arava and King Abdullah bridge to Qasr el Yahud. For younger cyclists, there is a 5 kilometre section on the family route.

A large camping site will be available at the Kalia and Neve Midbar beaches, family attractions will be available free of charge throughout the weekend and, of course, there will be voting booths for the Dead Sea in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

At over 400 meters below sea level and with luxury hotels in the Ein Bokek area, the Dead Sea is known as the lowest and largest natural health spa in the world.

This natural phenomenon offers tourists and health-seekers black Dead Sea mud and thermo-mineral hot springs; desert-dry, air free of pollution and pollen and rich in oxygen, bromine and magnesium and year-round sunshine with filtered UVB rays. Tourist attractions in the area, among others, include the Roman fortress at Masada, the Ein Gedi and Einot Tzukim nature reserves and Qumran, home to the Essenes sect and the area where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

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