Haifa

INSPIRING SETTINGS FOR SUSPENSEFUL NOVELS  by Joan Ramirez, author/photographer 

Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Haifa has a history

spanning more than 3,000 years. The earliest known settlement in the vicinity was a small port city established in the Late Bronze Age (14th century BCE). Over the millennia, the city has changed hands: being conquered and ruled by the Canaanites, Israelites, Phoenicians, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British. 

Haifa was besieged and blockaded by European Christians shortly after the end of the First Crusade.Under the Crusaders, Haifa was reduced to a small fortified coastal stronghold. It was a part of the of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Following Saladin's victory at the Battle of Hattin his army captured Haifa in mid-July 1187 and the city's Crusader fortress was destroyed. Richard the Lionhearted retook Haifa in 1191. Many of the crusader fortifications from that era have been restored and opened to tourists. A wonderful way to spend several hours touring this piece of history.

Today the city is a major seaport located on Israel's Mediterranean coastline and lies about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Tel Aviv. It is the major regional center of northern Israel. The city plays an important role in the country's economy. It is home to Matam, one of the oldest and largest high-tech parks in the country; Haifa also owns the only underground rapid transit system located in Israel. Haifa Bay is a center of heavy industry, petroleum refining and chemical processing. The city formerly functioned as the western terminus of an oil pipeline from Iraq via Jordan.

This and other photos of Israel and Jordan are available for purchase.

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