Nature in Israel is diverse. Being a borderland between continents with different climate zones on the northern edge of the world desert belt, on the coast of the Mediterranean, and on the edge of a tectonic plate along the Great Rift Valley made Israel rich in fauna, flora, and geology. The climate varies, from the wet, green landscape in the north to the arid desert, part of the world desert belt in the south, and from the humid coastline in the west to the rain shadow desert in the east in less than 50 km (30 miles) in the distance. The tiny Land of Israel is a meeting place for the flora of local Mediterranean plants, with those migrating from the Irano-Turanian, the Sahara-Arabian, and the Sudan-African regions. Israel is home to more than 2,800 diverse flora species. Israel is one of the best places for birdwatching. Israel is a major corridor where flocks of birds migrate from the cold European winter to Africa and back. An estimated half-billion birds pass through Israel every year. The landscape of Israel is dominated by the Mediterranean coastline in the west, the Great Rift Valley in the east, and the central mountain ridge in between. These three main sections stretch in parallel from north to south and are divided into regions entirely different from each other. Walking is the best way to enjoy the nature of Israel. The country has an extensive network of more than 10,000 km (6,250 miles) of first-class signed and well-maintained trails. Some of them are short and easy to walk on, and some are long-distance hiking trails and strenuous in sections. The backbone of the trails is the Israeli National Trail, which covers a distance of more than 1,000 km (625 miles) from north to south, and several regional long distance trails of 60–150 km (~ 40–90 miles) each. Traditionally, autumn and spring are the best times for hiking. If you catch sunny days during the winter (you have more than a 60% chance), then it is the perfect time to be out. Summer hiking should be planned carefully. In July and August, the temperature gets higher than 40 °C (104 °F) in the eastern corridor (Sea of Galilee, Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Arava) and humidity gets to 80% along the coastline. Choosing the right trails, hiking in the cooler hours of the day, and carrying sufficient water will make your summer walk enjoyable. See Hiking Tour Package