Avir passing the ruins of Mamsheet on his camel ride.
Avir (second camel from the back) is enjoying the camel ride through part of the Mamshit (pronounced Mamsheet) National Park and the weather is perfect…not too hot, clear skies, no pollution and no dust. In the distance on the horizon is the city of Dimona. It’s name is derived from the Biblical town mentioned in Joshua 15:21-22: “… the cities at the outer part of the tribe of Judah toward the border with Edom in the south … Dimonah …” This city is 35 kilometres west of the Dead Sea and 36 kilometres south of Beersheva. Dimona is the third largest city in the Negev with a population of about 33,900. Within ten years the population is expected to triple.
Just ahead of the riders are the ruins of the ancient trading post of Mamshit which is currently used as a police lookout. Mamshit was built in the first century B.C. as a stop off resting place for caravans and traders travelling through from Petra to the Mediterranean coast. It was a great adventure for Avir and his friends that day, who were also from Australia. This was their first camel ride, very exciting and enjoyable.