Borot Lotz

Located in the high mountains of the Negev (950m), near the northern edge of Machtesh Ramon, 5km from Egypt, and 34 from Mitzpe Ramon. Here we can find 17 !! water pools, in an area of 2 square km. You will be surprised to hear that 15 of them are still filled up every winter with fresh water, though most of them were built in the 10th century b.c !!

In the times of King Solomon, effort was made to inhabit the area, in order to form a living border between the desert tribes, and the cities of the Kingdom. The border of the Kingdom went through the northern edge of the Machtesh, through Kadesh-Barnea, and then to the north. To enable a life in this area, dozens of pools and wells were digged, which stopped the water of the rain. Lotz is a part of this monarchial effort. It seems the settlements continued until the Babilone expelsion in 586 b.c.

In the first centuries a.c, the Nabaties took over the desert, and conducted a settlement movement, which conquered all the deserted places, and inhabited them with merchants, farmers, and pastors. This reached a peak in the 5th to the 7th century, in the Bysantine period, and every piece of land, worthy to cultivate, was planted and used.

The name Lotz is a new one, and the old one is not known, so you're welcome to offer your suggestions. (Hint: follow the border of Solomon). Lotz comes from the next waddi: Lussan.

In the area there are some rare trees, impressive Ficus Atlantica (Ela), and groups of Almod trees (Ha-Shkediya Porahat...). The blooming is fantastic, as you will see in the picture.

Lotz is not a place to pass by, which is good. It leaves the amazing Uziya/Tuvya Iris, the fabulous Shimshonit, the deep-red Tulipans, the foxes and the gazellas untouched, not to talk about thousands of other flowers, which grow only in the specific area, and the rare deers they are trying to put back in the nature.

If you want to know how to get there - it's in the book.

Oh, and another thing: Please take a map. Don't count on road signs. The wind is strong, and the natives like to turn around the signs, like in the Hershele's story.

Have a nice trip.