September 12, 2013, Updated August 25, 2016

The 500 million birds migrating over Israel at the moment have the best view of the country’s varied topography and geography. Tourists may not be able to take flight, but they can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the land from one of the country’s cable-car systems. ISRAEL21c has the details:

ROSH HANIKRA

It’s a short cable car ride down and up the white chalk cliff face overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. But this quick sky ride to the famous Rosh Hanikra grottoes is said to be the steepest cable car in the world, ascending 70 meters above sea level at a gradient of 60 degrees.) Keep your camera at the ready because the views from the cable car – and then inside the grottoes – are breathtaking.

MANARA

Israel’s longest cable-car ride runs a 1,940-meter route above the Galilee’s verdant and flowering terrain. Located on the Manara cliff between Rosh Pina and Kiryat Shmona, this cable car lets riders catch brilliant panoramic views of the Hula Valley and Golan Heights from an altitude of 750 meters.

HAIFA

The Stella Maris cable car in Haifa is the cheapest cable railway ride you’ll find in Israel ($8 there and back) but does not scrimp on the views. Actually, the short ride offers gorgeous vistas of Mount Carmel’s slopes, the Haifa Bay and the beach below. The cable car route connects the Bat Galim Promenade and the Stella Maris lookout on Mount Carmel.

MOUNT HERMON

Although best known as Israel’s only ski site, Mount Hermon is open year round and offers amazing views from its 2,814-meter perch. Ride a cable car up the mountain and check out the flowers, fauna and landscape below. You can actually see three countries from above: Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

MASADA

Rosh Hanikra and Masada cable car rides are the most popular in the country. The fastest way up to the top of this world-famous archaeological site is to ride the cable car. And the panoramic views of the desert from above are well worth the journey. The cable car runs from the tourist center at the foot of the UNESCO World Heritage Site to the top of the plateau.

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