Ein Yotvata - Ein Radian

In ancient times Ein Radian was the largest spring in the southern Arava region, and naturally served as a way station for travelers on their way from east of the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea or from the Negev to Eilat.

When the Roman Empire ruled this area, a fortress was built to guard the water and provide services to wayfarers.

The ruins of this square fortress are from the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who ruled in this region in the early 4th century.

The remains of a Roman bathhouse can be seen to the north of the fortress. The Turks built a police station on top of the fortress, which was later used by the British Camel Corps.

After the establishment of the State of Israel, the spring's water was used by the residents of nearby Kibbutz Yotvata, which was founded in the 1950s.

Yotvata's first dairy herd, which produced very high quality milk and made Yotvata dairy products famous, roamed around the oasis.

Over the years, pumping by the Mekorot Water Company dried up the ground.

Photographer: Avishay Teicher. From the PicWiki site.