| Mount Gilboa | |
|---|---|
 Mount Gilboa, 2007 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 496 m (1,627 ft) |
| Coordinates | 32°26′02″N35°24′52″E / 32.43389°N 35.41444°E /32.43389; 35.41444 |
| Geography | |
  Mount Gilboa Location in Israel | |
| Location | Northern District,Israel |
| Parent range | Samaria |
Mount Gilboa (Hebrew:הַר הַגִּלְבֹּעַ,romanized: Har hagGīlbōaʿ;Arabic:جبل جلبوعJabal Jalbūʿ orجبل فقوعةJabal Fuqqāʿa), sometimes referred to as theMountains of Gilboa, is the name for a mountain range inIsrael. It overlooks theHarod Valley (the eastern part of the largerJezreel Valley) to the north, and theJordan Valley and Hills to the southeast and to the west, respectively.
The meaning of the Hebrew name "Gilboa" is unknown.[1] It is possible that it originates from a former, non-Semitic toponym, wheregil referred to "mountain," the second part consisting of an unknown element.[2]
In theHebrew Bible,Saul, Israel's firstking, led a charge against thePhilistines at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4).[3] The battle ends with the king falling on his own sword and Saul's sons,Jonathan,Abinadab, andMelchishua being killed in battle (1 Samuel 31:1–4).King David, who hears about the tragedy after the battle, curses the mountain:
A minorbattle between the army of theCrusaderKingdom of Jerusalem and SultanSaladin took place at the foot of Mount Gilboa in 1183.
The 1260Battle of Ain Jalut was fought at the foot of Mount Gilboa. The success of the MuslimMamluks against theMongols marked the end of the westward push of the Asian empire and ensured the survival of MuslimEgypt.
The formation has the shape of a boomerang, extending north from thehighlands ofSamaria on theWest Bank and turning northwest at about half its length, thus separating the southeastern end of the Jezreel Valley to the west, from theBeit She'an andEin Harod valleys to the east. The range's highest peak rises 496 meters above sea level.[citation needed]
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In 1976 and 1977, Mount Gilboa was counted to have about 170 plant species, includingPinus halepensis (on the rocky slopes) andPistacia lentiscus (the shrub layer).[4]
Every year from late February until late March the purpleHayne's Iris, the national flower ofPalestine,[5] known in Arabic as the Fukkua Iris, and in Hebrew as the Gilboa Iris, blooms on the mountain.[6] Twonature reserves have been declared on the ridge: the Gilboa Iris nature reserve in 1970, covering 7,280 dunams (728 ha), and the eastern Gilboa reserve in 2005, covering 18,290 dunams (1,829 ha).[7]
It also has a very diverse animal species range, with 14 reptile, 7 rodent, 31 bird and 13isopod species.[8]
