SPACEPHOTOS

The region of south and southwest Israel can be seen in this mostly east-looking view. The southern Central Hills, an area of low hills and many small valleys, is visible at the left center of the image. A portion of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, is visible at the upper left of the image. In the upper right and right center of the image, the Negev Desert, an area of low hills, is discernible. Parts of the Negev Desert are under irrigation as can be seen on the border between Israel and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt just below the right center of the image. Minerals such as copper, phosphates, and natural gas are also commercially extracted from the Negev Desert. Just below the center of the image and along the Mediterranean Sea coast is the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is a narrow area of desert land that is 26 miles (42 km) long and from 4 to 5 miles (6 to 8 km) wide. The strip is densely populated and impoverished with more than 99 percent of the population being Arab refugees from Israel. The modest economy of the Gaza Strip is based on agriculture, livestock, fishing, and some small industry.