Nahal Ayun


Nahal Ayun, sometimes spelled Nahal Iyyon, in براغيث Bureighit, or in full Nahr Bareighit, is a perennial stream and a tributary of the Jordan River. The stream originates from two springs in the Marjayoun valley in southern Lebanon, runs southward for seven kilometers through various irrigation ditches, then flows into Israel near Metulla, where it continues through the Hula Valley in the Galilee Panhandle until emptying in the Hasbani River just before it reaches the Jordan River.

Names

Arabic

The Arabic name is most often transliterated as "Dardara" for the upper course and "Bareighit" or "Bureighith" for the lower one. The "Memoirs of the Survey of Western Palestine", published in 1881 in connection with the maps resulting from the 1870s Survey, use a slightly different spelling; the "very large spring" of a 'Ain ed Derdarah, lit. "the spring of the derdârah tree", from the village of El Khiam, is mentioned to create a "strong stream", that once it's enhanced by the waters of 'Ain Hosh becomes Nahr Bareighit, lit. "the river of fleas". However, the Survey map actually uses another name altogether for the upper course, Wadi el Kharrar, "the valley of the murmuring water". This seems to be either a typo, or a lesser-used name, since the index list of the Memoirs is sending under "Wadi el Kharrar", to page 36, where the name Wadi el Kharrar doesn't appear at all; instead, on that page there is an explanation regarding names omitted from the map due to lack of space - but this doesn't apply either, since the name "Wadi Kharrar" appears very well visible on Sheet 2 / Qb across the Merj 'Ayun plain.

Nature reserve

During the rainy winter months the water-flow is strongest. During the summer months, water is diverted for crop irrigation close to the stream's springs. Differences in elevation form waterfalls along the stream. These falls were declared a nature reserve, and include:
Tree types in the reserve include Pistacia palaestina, Rhamnus palaestinus, and Acer obtusifolium maple. Other growth includes Spanish broom, rubus, Cyclamen persicum, and Anemones.
Grey wagtails can be found during the winter months, as well as white-throated kingfishers and common kestrels.