Good news for bathers at the Sea of Galilee: new beach regulations effective today
The swimming and tourism season is at its peak, with hundreds of thousands of Israelis visiting the Sea of Galilee daily. In response, the Kinneret Cities Association has extended lifeguard operating hours to ensure public safety.
The swimming and tourism season is at its peak, and hundreds of thousands of Israelis visit the beaches of the Sea of Galilee every day. In light of this, the Kinneret Cities Association announced on Tuesday the extension of operating hours for swimming services along the beaches. Starting today, lifeguard supervision has been extended until 19:00 daily.
As a reminder, last week, three of the most popular beaches on the Sea of Galilee—Shikmim, Tzinbari, and Berniki—were closed following a heavy influx of visitors. Furthermore, a major incident occurred when a SUP surfer, spotted from a lifeguard tower at a great distance from the shore, began to drift; the lifeguard managed to reach him and perform a rescue before a disaster occurred.
The Sea of Galilee area is considered one of the hottest in Israel, and last week temperatures reached approximately 46 degrees Celsius. Consequently, the Kinneret Cities Association control room issued a stern warning for bathers. In the peak of the summer season, the Association advised:
"Those staying on the beaches should be careful of being swept into the depths of the lake, especially when using flotation devices, and should be wary of breaking branches and flying objects."
Additionally, last week the water level of the Sea of Galilee was measured at 213.015 meters below Mediterranean Sea level, which is only 15 centimeters above the previously defined "lower red line." This situation is extremely concerning, as it reflects a very low water level similar to extreme conditions in the past.
