Sharon Plain

The Sharon Plain (Hebrew: שרון‎) is the northern half of the coastal plain of Israel. Its largest city is Netanya.

The Plain lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Samarian Hills, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the east. It stretches from Haifa and Mount Carmel in the north to the Yarkon River in the south, at the edge of the present city of Tel Aviv, about 90 kilometres (56 mi). Parts of the Plain are included in the Haifa, Center, and Tel Aviv Districts of Israel. In 2008 The Sharon Plain was home to 1,131,600 people, 965,300 of them (85.3%) are Jews, and 166,300 (14.6%) are Arabs.

The Plain of Sharon is mentioned in the Bible (1 Chron. 5:16, 27:29; Isaiah 33:9, 35:2, 65:10), including the famous reference to the enigmatic "Rose of Sharon" (Song of Solomon 2:1). In ancient times, the plain was particularly fertile and populous. Zionist immigrants arrived in the early 20th century, and populated the region with many settlements. In 2008, it was the most densely populated region of Israel.

Cities Regional Councils
  • Netanya (population: 204,000)
  • Herzliya (population: 96,000)
  • Hadera (population: 76,400)
  • Kfar Sava (population: 81,400)
  • Rosh Ha'ayin (population: 37,500)
  • Ra'anana (population: 73,100)
  • Hod HaSharon (population: 44,500)
  • Ramat HaSharon (population: 36,800)
  • Tayibe (population: 33,800)
  • Tira (population: 21,100)
  • Qalansawe (population: 17,300)
  • Hefer Valley Regional Council
  • Hof HaSharon Regional Council
  • Lev HaSharon Regional Council
  • Southern Sharon Regional Council

Famous quotes containing the word plain:

    Judge Bedford: I understand you refuse to be represented by counsel.
    Walter: That’s correct, your honor.
    Judge Bedford: Are you suicidal, Mr. Davis, or just plain stupid?
    Dale Launer (b. 1953)