Jerusalem----December 3, 2004...... Israel Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra, Tamar Regional Council Head Mr. Dov Litvinoff, the honorable representative of Nepal in Israel Adina Gotsman, and foreign and Israeli dignitaries inaugurated ‘The Lowest Park on Earth’, transforming the lowest point on Earth into a unique tourist attraction for all to enjoy.

Ms. Gotsman read a message from the government of the Kingdom of Nepal, site of the highest mountain on Earth. At 415 meters (1362 feet) below sea level, the Lowest Park on Earth is located on the unspoiled expanses north of the Ein Gedi Spa on the shores of Israel’s Dead Sea. Entrance to this site in Israel is free to the public.

With the inauguration of the park, Israel officially joins Mts. Everest, Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and others in the club of geographic greats. Israel's Dead Sea is renowned throughout the world for its curative qualities and is a magnet for people, particularly psoriasis sufferers, seeking to benefit from the therapeutic power of its mineral-rich waters. Six to eight thousand ‘therapeutic tourists’ visit the region each year. Israeli Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra said he hopes the establishment of the site will encourage regional tourism ventures with Jordan and Egypt. Listen to the Sounds of the Desert in This New Park A new one-of-a-kind ‘Sounds of the Desert Park’ was inaugurated in Mitzpe Ramon.

This unique park, the first of its kind in Israel, features sculptures made from musical instruments that produce ‘natural’ desert sounds when ‘played’ by the wind in the area. A variety of artists and musicians, including the Mitzpe Ramon Children’s Choir, participated in the inauguration ceremony on November 16.

The Ministry of Tourism in Israel also announced that a rare coin has just been discovered at the archaeological excavation of ancient Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (the "Kinneret") in Israel. On the front of the coin, a somewhat blurred image of Jesus can be seen, while on the back, the words in Greek "Jesus the Messiah King of Kings" are engraved very clearly.

This coin is one of a series of coins that were issued in Constantinople (present day Istanbul) in celebration of the First Millennium of Jesus' birth. It is not uncommon to find this coin in one of Israel's neighboring countries, such as Turkey, but this is the first time that it has ever been discovered at an Israeli archaeological site. Prof. Yizhar Hirschfeld, Director of this excavation, explains that this coin was brought to Tiberias by Christian pilgrims. Tiberias and the other sites around Israel's Sea of Galilee were the desired destination of Christian pilgrims during the time of Muslim rule in Israel from the 7th to 11th centuries CE.

Mr. Zohar Oved, Mayor of Tiberias, who stands behind the efforts of this excavation in Israel, has stated that the finding of the Jesus coin on the shores of the Sea of Galilee will be a drawing point for tourists from all over the world. The excavation is sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Brown University, in association with the City of Tiberias and the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism is now preparing for thousands of Christian pilgrims to arrive in Israel to celebrate Christmas in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. According to an Israeli official, this year appears to be the busiest, most peaceful and profitable for Israeli and Palestinian hotels, tour guides and shops.

ISRAEL NEWS AGENCY