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A new cycle path is inaugurated in Arava as a tribute to the 11 cyclists who died on October 7

December 5th 2024 , , , , ,
Tour of Timna Valley Park. Photo: Hoshvilim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.Tour of Timna Valley Park. Photo: Hoshvilim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Timna Valley, located in the Negev Desert, Israel, about 30 kilometers north of Eilat, is home to copper mines that were exploited from the XNUMXth millennium BC until the Middle Ages. A large portion of the valley, containing ancient remains of copper mining activities and archaeological remains at worship sites, is part of the Timna Valley Park.

Timna Park, known for its desert landscapes, is a point of attraction for both domestic and international visitors, especially among professional and amateur cyclists. On Thursday, a cycle path was opened in the southern Arava, connecting Highway 90 to the park. 

The cycle path was built in memory of the 11 cyclists killed during the attack on 7 October and in honour of the safe return of kidnapped cyclists Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Ben Ami, along with the others who were released.

The inauguration was part of the South Arava Cycling Conference and included a tour with dozens of participants along the trail. 

The trail is part of a larger project to improve access to Timna Park, which has been funded in total with NIS 21 million, of which NIS 7 million was used for the cycle path. 

Danny Shahar, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, took part in the inaugural tour and stressed that it is “a tribute to the victims of October 7 and a symbol of hope for the kidnapped, so that one day they can also join us on this journey.”

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