Editing Eilat (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Eilat Sports Center by Bodek Achitects.JPG|thumb|[[Eilat Sports Center]], a $3 million project, was completed in 2013.]]

Eilat offers a wide range of accommodations, from hostels and luxury hotels to [[Bedouin]] hospitality. In recent years Eilat has been the target of militants from Egypt and Gaza causing a reduced tourist inflow to the region. Attractions include:

*[[Birdwatching]] and ringing station: Eilat is located on the main migration route between Africa and Europe. International Birding & Research Center in Eilat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdsofeilat.com/about%20us.htm |title=birdsofeilat.com |publisher=birdsofeilat.com |access-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903120138/http://www.birdsofeilat.com/about%20us.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2009 }}</ref>
*[[Camel]] tours
*[[Coral Beach Nature Reserve]], an underwater [[Marine Protected Area|marine reserve]] of tropical marine flora and fauna
*[[Coral World Underwater Observatory]], located at the southern tip of Coral Beach, it has aquaria, a museum, simulation rides, and shark, turtle, and [[stingray]] tanks. The observatory is the biggest [[public aquarium]] in the Middle East.<ref name="cw">{{cite web|url=http://www.coralworld.com/eilat/eng/ |title=The Underwater Observatory Marine Park, Eilat |access-date=November 16, 2007 |publisher=Coral World |year=2005 |author=Coral World |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026054705/http://coralworld.com/eilat/eng/ |archive-date=October 26, 2007 }}</ref>
*[[Dolphin Reef]], a marine biology and research station where visitors can swim and interact with dolphins<ref name="dolphin">{{cite web|url=http://www.dolphinreef.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=1 |title=The Freedom To Choose |access-date=October 29, 2007 |publisher=The Dolphin Reef Eilat |year=2007 |author=The Dolphin Reef Eilat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118012403/http://www.dolphinreef.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=1 |archive-date=November 18, 2007 }}</ref>
*Freefall [[parachuting]].
*[[Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve]], established in the 1960s to conserve [[endangered species]], including Biblical animals, from this and similar regions. The reserve has a visitors' center, care and treatment enclosures, and large open area where desert animals are acclimated before re-introduction into the wild. Hai-Bar efforts have successfully re-introduced the Asian wild ass, or [[onager]], into the [[Negev]].<ref name="Hai">{{cite web|url=http://redseadesert.com/html/060haibar.html |title=Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve |access-date=November 16, 2007 |publisher=The Red Sea Desert |year=2007 |author=The Red Sea Desert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929014355/http://redseadesert.com/html/060haibar.html |archive-date=September 29, 2008 }}</ref> The Hai-Bar Nature Reserve and animal re-introduction program were described in Bill Clark's book "High Hills and Wild Goats: Life Among the Animals of the Hai-Bar Wildlife Refuge". The book also describes life in Eilat and the surrounding area.<ref name="Goats">{{cite web|url=http://www.melbabooks.com/misc/wildgoats.html|title=High Hills and Wild Goats: Life Among the Animals of the Hai-Bar Wildlife Refuge|publisher=Little Brown and Company; 1st edition|year=1989|author=Bill clark|access-date=2009-10-02|archive-date=2010-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109011426/http://www.melbabooks.com/misc/wildgoats.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Marina]], with some 250 yacht berths
*[[Timna Valley Park]], the oldest copper mines in the world; Egyptian temple of Hathor, King Solomon's Pillars sandstone formation, ancient pit mines and [[rock art]]<ref name="Timna">{{cite web|url=http://www.bibleplaces.com/timnavalley.htm|title=Timna Valley|access-date=November 16, 2007|publisher=BiblePlaces.com|year=2007|author=BiblePlaces.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117232546/http://www.bibleplaces.com/timnavalley.htm|archive-date=November 17, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*"What's Up", a portable astronomical [[observatory]] with programs in the desert and on the promenade<ref>{{cite web |url=http://whatsup.eilatnature.com/ |title="What's Up" Observatory in Eilat |publisher=Whatsup.eilatnature.com |access-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721134744/http://whatsup.eilatnature.com/ |archive-date=July 21, 2012 }}</ref>
*Ice Mall, ice skating rink and shopping mall