Over the years, Eilat has
developed into a tourist center, attracting people to the ever-present
sun, to the many hiking trails and to the sea with its world famous
corals.Today, Eilat is a thriving town and one of Israel’s most popular
tourist attractions. It is a paradise for those who love the water and
water sports. Here you can laze around the beach or take an excursion in a
glass bottom boat, go snorkeling or visit the Coral World Underwater
Observatory and Aquarium or just stay in your airconditioned hotel room
and admire the view from your window.
Contrary to popular belief Eilat is not just another
pretty town there’s actually a thriving residential area, a lot of
history and interesting sites to see.
With the exception of a lonely police station, no
buildings or population existed here until the decision to create Eilat in
the 1950's. This decision was made for two main reasons:
1) in order to establish a permanent Israeli presence in
this small piece of territory between Jordan and Egypt
2) in order to provide a port for shipping to
destinations in Eastern Africa and Asia via the Red Sea.
Eilat's port facilities were expanded during the 1960's,
in order to serve the shipping of Iranian oil. This oil was brought by
tankers to Eilat, piped across the Negev to Ashkelon on the Mediteranean
coast, transferred back to tankers and then shipped to Europe. However,
since the Khomeini revolution which stopped the flow of petroleum, and the
reopening of the Suez Canal, Eilat's port has suffered greatly. Thus Eilat
must constantly struggle against adverse conditions - economic, political
and natural. Yet, Eilat must continue to exist in order to maintain
Israel's access to the sea and to strengthen national security on the
remote southern border.
