Located on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and above the city of Tiberias, the Switzerland Forest was established in 1928 by the Forestry Branch of Mandatory Palestine with the help of the Keren Kayemeth Le Israel (Jewish National Fund) of Switzerland. The forest covers an area of approximately 3,000 m2 and extends from Upper Tiberias in the north to Poria Hostel in the south. Its main purpose was to protect against flooding, such as the destructive Great Flood of 1934 which caused property damage and fatalities in Tiberias due to mudslides and heavy flooding. The Switzerland Forest is home to a variety of tree species including acacia, cypress, eucalyptus, tetraclinis, pistacia, and carob trees. It also offers visitors a scenic road, lookouts, hiking trails, picnic areas, and play facilities for children.
The view from the lookout:
