Geomorphology

Abstract

The Lake Kinneret watershed covers ten major physiographic units with highly variable geology, geomorphology, soils, climate, vegetation, and land use, characterizing a “mosaic” type of landscapes. This chapter offers an introduction to the physical geography settings of the Lake Kinneret watershed, presenting the characteristics and principal geomorphic processes active in each unit. Human impact on land degradation began with the appearance of humans about 1.5 million years ago, but major effects on landscape modification occurred in historic times. Environmental hazards and natural disasters in the last decade are also discussed in this chapter.