Editing Geography of Israel (section)

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of Israel}}
[[File:ROSH HANIKRA RH3 ITAMAR GRINBERG IMOT (14301597350).jpg|thumb|[[Rosh HaNikra grottoes|Rosh HaNikra chalk cliff]]]]
Israel is divided east–west by a mountain range running north to south along the coast. [[Jerusalem]] sits on the top of this ridge, east of which lies the Dead Sea [[graben]] which is a [[pull-apart basin]] on the [[Dead Sea Transform]] [[Transform fault|fault]].<ref name="geology">{{cite web | url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/il/Geology.html | title=Geology of Israel | access-date=8 April 2008}}</ref>

The numerous [[limestone]] and [[sandstone]] layers of the Israeli mountains serve as [[aquifer]]s through which water flows from the west flank to the east. Several [[Spring (hydrology)|springs]] have formed along the Dead Sea, each an [[oasis]], most notably the oases at [[Ein Gedi]] and [[Ein Bokek]] ([[Neve Zohar]]) where settlements have developed.<ref name="geology" /> Israel also has a number of areas of [[karst topography]]. Caves in the region have been used for thousands of years as shelter, storage rooms, barns and as places of public gatherings.<ref name="geology" />

The far northern coastline of the country has some [[chalk]] landscapes best seen at [[Rosh HaNikra grottoes|Rosh HaNikra]], a chalk cliff into which a series of [[grotto]]es have been eroded.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/roshhan.htm | title=Rosh HaNikra | publisher=JAFI | access-date=8 April 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517120121/http://www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/roshhan.htm | archive-date=17 May 2008 }}</ref>

===Seismic activity===
{{main|List of earthquakes in the Levant}}

The [[Jordan Rift Valley]] is the result of tectonic movements within the [[Dead Sea Transform]] (DSF) fault system. The DSF forms the [[transform fault|transform boundary]] between the [[African Plate]] to the west and the [[Arabian Plate]] to the east. The Golan Heights and all of Jordan are part of the Arabian Plate, while the Galilee, West Bank, Coastal Plain, and Negev along with the Sinai Peninsula are on the African Plate. This tectonic disposition leads to a relatively high seismic activity in the region.

The entire Jordan Valley segment is thought to have ruptured repeatedly, for instance during the last two major earthquakes along this structure in 749 and [[1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake|1033]]. The deficit in [[Fault (geology)#Slip.2C heave.2C throw|slip]] that has built up since the 1033 event is sufficient to cause an earthquake of {{M|w}}~7.4.<ref name="Ferry">{{cite journal |title=A 48-kyr-long slip rate history for the Jordan Valley segment of the Dead Sea Fault |author1=Ferry M. |author2=Meghraoui M. |author3=Karaki A.A. |author4=Al-Taj M. |author5=Amoush H. |author6=Al-Dhaisat S. |author7=Barjous M. |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |year=2008 |volume=260 |issue=3–4 |pages=394–406 |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.049 |bibcode=2007E&PSL.260..394F  |issn=0012-821X }}</ref>

The most catastrophic earthquakes occurred in 31 BCE, 363, 749, and 1033 CE, that is every ca. 400 years on average.<ref name="MarcoAFTAU">American Friends of the Tel Aviv University, ''Earthquake Experts at Tel Aviv University Turn to History for Guidance'' (4 October 2007). Quote: The major ones were recorded along the Jordan Valley in the years 31 B.C.E., 363 C.E., 749 C.E., and 1033 C.E. "So roughly, we are talking about an interval of every 400 years. If we follow the patterns of nature, a major quake should be expected any time because almost a whole millennium has passed since the last strong earthquake of 1033." (Tel Aviv University Associate Professor Dr. Shmuel (Shmulik) Marco). [http://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?&storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006013914/http://www.aftau.org/news-page-environment--ecology?&storyid4703=2015&ncs4703=3|date=6 October 2016}}</ref> Destructive earthquakes leading to serious loss of life strike about every 80 years.<ref name="IllPreped">Zafrir Renat, ''Israel Is Due, and Ill Prepared, for Major Earthquake'', Haaretz, 15 January 2010. "On average, a destructive earthquake takes place in Israel once every 80 years, causing serious casualties and damage."  [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-is-due-and-ill-prepared-for-a-major-earthquake-1.261497]</ref> While stringent construction regulations are currently in place and recently built structures are earthquake-safe, as of 2007 the majority of the buildings in Israel were older than these regulations and many public buildings as well as 50,000 residential buildings did not meet the new standards and were "expected to collapse" if exposed to a strong quake.<ref name="IllPreped"/> Given the fragile political situation of the Middle East region and the presence there of major holy sites, a quake reaching magnitude 7 on the Richter scale could have dire consequences for world peace.<ref name="MarcoAFTAU"/>