Tsemah Beach – the southernmost of the Sea of Galilee beaches, Tsemah Beach borders on the grounds of the Emek Hayarden Regional Council buildings in the west, and the Bet Gabriel Amphitheater on the east.
The beach is divided into distinct strips:
• Broad lawn
• Water-level fluctuation strip, including the bathing beach
• Central plaza, concrete, on the edges of which grow Sycamore fig trees (Ficus sycomorus), flame trees (Alloxylon flammeum) and washingtonia palms (Washingtonia robusta).
Western plaza, concrete, surrounded by a lawn, colorful nightshade (Solanum) and Bougainvillea shrubs, as well as well as Thuja trees, chaste trees (Vitex pseudonegundo) and Mediterranean cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens). There are also benches shaded by date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) and Eucalyptus trees.
• Scenic lookout, in the west, next to which is a cluster of naturally growing giant cane (Arundo donax)and planted washingtonia palms and olive (Olea europaea) trees.
• “Giant sandbox,” filled with material brought here from distant beaches.
• Western path, parallel to the shoreline, shaded by spreading sycamore fig trees.
Between the paths and the plazas, quite a few wild species grow among the ornamental greenery. Some are typical beach species – tamarisk (Tamarix), creeping vervain (phyla nodiflora), Syrian fleabane (pluchia discorides), knotweed (Poliganum acuminatum) and reeds (Cyperus). Other plants prefer a moist environment – chaste trees, Commicarpus africanus and saltbush (Atriplex). Some plants originated in the surrounding area, but sprouted and thrive here. They survive as long as the beach is not flooded; among these are silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), flax-leaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis), species of Aramanth, small caltrops (Tribulus terrestris), sweet clover (Meliotus), mallow (Malva nicaeensis) hop clover (Medicago lupulina), winter cherry (Withania somnifera), Euphorbia, Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), Aleppo sorghum (Sorghum halepense) and other grains. The area is dotted with many dark, spherical seeds of sprouting Washingtonia palms. The scattered trees are a habitat for songbirds typically found in gardens. Laughing doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) and mynas (Acridotheres tristis) nest in the tops of the washingtonia palms, protecting their territories with loud cries.
Water-level Fluctuation Strip – Flora and Fauna
The central sidewalk leads to the natural beach, which is covered with black and white pebbles about 10 cm in size. Empty shells are scattered among the pebbles, attesting that snails, among them melanopsis (Melanopsis praemorsa), Theodoxis and Tiara, either inhabited the site or were swept here from the depths of the lake or from nearby beaches whose foundation is clayey – bivalves (Bivalvia) and red-rimmed melania (Melanoides tuberculata). Live molluscs can be seen on the rocks in the water, algae had painted the rock surfaces green, and tiny (up to 5 mm) Amphipoda crabs find shelter under the rocks.
Flanking the natural portion of the beach, retaining walls made of boulders rise to the maximum height of the Sea of Galilee, so that when the lake is completely full, the water almost covered these walls. Sharp-eyed visitors will notice dark lines on the wall left by the water level at various times. The stone walls, which are immersed in the water, are populated by snails.
Remains of tamarisk trees can be seen in the water. They sprouted on dry land a few dozen meters from the water line, in years when the water line was low, the Sea of Galilee shrunk and the beach expanded. After a few rainy winters, the lake filled up, flooded the shores and all the plants that were growing on them. None survived except for the tall tamarisks. Some of these trees can be expected to flourish again when the water level goes down and dry land around them is exposed.
The tamarisks in the water are reproduction sites for fish and crabs and a place for young fish and tiny animals to hide. Aquatic birds use the tamarisk braches over the water to land and rest, to ambush prey and sometimes even to nest. Prominent among the aquatic birds that visit the site are cormorants and various kinds of herons, such as the great egret (Ardea alba), the gray heron (Ardea cinerea), common terns (Sterno hirundo) and pied kingfishers (Ceryle rudis).