Σεφελά

Συντεταγμένες: 31°41′30″N 34°52′30″E / 31.69167°N 34.87500°E / 31.69167; 34.87500

Η Σεφελά ή Σφελά (σημ.: «πεδινά», βιβλικά εβραϊκά: הַשְּפֵלָה hašŠǝfēlā, νέα εβραϊκά: שְׁפֵלַת יְהוּדָה Šǝfēlat Yəhūda) είναι μεταβατική περιοχή κυματοειδών λόφων με ήπια κλίση στο νοτιοκεντρικό Ισραήλ, που εκτείνεται 10–15 χλμ. μεταξύ των Ορέων της Ιουδαίας και της Παράκτιας Πεδιάδας.^[1]^[2] Η Σεφελά είναι σε μεγάλο βαθμό αγροτική με πολλές φάρμες, αλλά οι πόλεις Ασντόντ, Ασκελόν, Ρεχοβότ, Μπέιτ Σεμές και Κιριάτ Γκατ κατά προσέγγιση την περιβάλλουν.

Έχει μήκος περίπου 60 χλμ σε κατεύθυνση βορρά-νότου και μόνο 13 χλμ πλάτος, υποδιαιρείται σε δύο μέρη: την δυτική «Κάτω Σεφελά», η οποία ξεκινά σε υψόμετρο περίπου 150 μέτρων πάνω από την επιφάνεια της θάλασσας και δεν υπερβαίνει τα 200 μέτρα πάνω από την παράκτια πεδιάδα, και την ανατολική «Άνω Σεφελά» που υψώνεται μεταξύ 250 και 450 μέτρων πάνω από την επιφάνεια της θάλασσας.^[2]^[1]

Παραπομπές Επεξεργασία

↑ ^1,0 ^1,1 «Land of Israel: Geographical Survey. Shephelah». Encyclopaedia Judaica. Thomson Gale. 2007. http://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/land-israel-geographical-survey. Ανακτήθηκε στις 29 January 2017. «Topographically, the Shephelah represents a transition zone between the Coastal Plains and the Hebron and Jerusalem Mountains. It is relatively narrow – about 8 mi. (13 km.) – in proportion to its south-north extension – about 35 mi. (60 km.). Though they form the foothills of the Judean Mountains, the Shephelah hills differ from the former in almost all respects. Structurally, they constitute a major synclinal part of the south Judean anticlinorium, composed mainly of chalky formations of Senonian-Eocene origin. Hypsographically, the Shephelah consists of two parts: a western one (the "Low Shephelah"), rising to a height of about 600 ft. (200 m.) above the Coastal Plains, and an eastern one (the "High Shephelah") about 600 ft. (200 m.) higher than the former. On the north the Shephelah borders on the tectonically conditioned Aijalon Valley, one of the main natural approaches to the Judean Mountains. The Shephelah is a region of gently sloped hills separated by the confluents of the major rivers descending into the area from the Judean Mountains. At their entrance into the Shephelah, these rivers, and several of their tributaries, form relatively wide-floored valleys that run for a considerable stretch along the border between the hill and the mountain region. Passage between these longitudinal valleys is relatively convenient, and this natural communication channel has been very important throughout history.».
↑ ^2,0 ^2,1 Jewish National Fund (KKL), British Park – Scenic trails in Israel's Heartland. Quote: "The Judean Plain is an intermediate region situated between the Coastal Plain to the west and the Judean Mountains to the east. The altitude of its hills varies from 150 to 450 meters above sea level, and geologically speaking, the plain is a syncline, i.e., a basin in which the layers of rock have folded downwards and sunk. [...] The plain consists of two distinct landscape units: the lower plain, to the west, where the hills are lower and separated by broad riverbeds; and the upper plain, where the valleys are deeper and the hills rise to a height of between 250 and 450 meters above sea level."

[EncJud-1] 1,0 ^1,1 «Land of Israel: Geographical Survey. Shephelah». Encyclopaedia Judaica. Thomson Gale. 2007. http://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/land-israel-geographical-survey. Ανακτήθηκε στις 29 January 2017. «Topographically, the Shephelah represents a transition zone between the Coastal Plains and the Hebron and Jerusalem Mountains. It is relatively narrow – about 8 mi. (13 km.) – in proportion to its south-north extension – about 35 mi. (60 km.). Though they form the foothills of the Judean Mountains, the Shephelah hills differ from the former in almost all respects. Structurally, they constitute a major synclinal part of the south Judean anticlinorium, composed mainly of chalky formations of Senonian-Eocene origin. Hypsographically, the Shephelah consists of two parts: a western one (the "Low Shephelah"), rising to a height of about 600 ft. (200 m.) above the Coastal Plains, and an eastern one (the "High Shephelah") about 600 ft. (200 m.) higher than the former. On the north the Shephelah borders on the tectonically conditioned Aijalon Valley, one of the main natural approaches to the Judean Mountains. The Shephelah is a region of gently sloped hills separated by the confluents of the major rivers descending into the area from the Judean Mountains. At their entrance into the Shephelah, these rivers, and several of their tributaries, form relatively wide-floored valleys that run for a considerable stretch along the border between the hill and the mountain region. Passage between these longitudinal valleys is relatively convenient, and this natural communication channel has been very important throughout history.».

[KKLBrPark-2] 2,0 ^2,1 Jewish National Fund (KKL), British Park – Scenic trails in Israel's Heartland. Quote: "The Judean Plain is an intermediate region situated between the Coastal Plain to the west and the Judean Mountains to the east. The altitude of its hills varies from 150 to 450 meters above sea level, and geologically speaking, the plain is a syncline, i.e., a basin in which the layers of rock have folded downwards and sunk. [...] The plain consists of two distinct landscape units: the lower plain, to the west, where the hills are lower and separated by broad riverbeds; and the upper plain, where the valleys are deeper and the hills rise to a height of between 250 and 450 meters above sea level."

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