Timna hidden lake is a huge and spectacular lake located between abandoned copper quarries, near Timna Park and Kibbutz Elifaz. The lake was formed when groundwater overflowed and flooded one of the quarries that were in the place. The result is a magical blue lake surrounded by reddish cliffs and a wonderful place for bathing and recreation on the way to or from Eilat.
The hidden lake is located near Timna Park, north of Eilat. It is hidden among the abandoned copper quarries in the Timna Valley and reveals itself to you only when you approach it (hence its name). This is a truly spectacular gem, with a combination of bright blue water and red cliffs in the middle of the desert, in what looks like the middle of nowhere.
But how did it appear like that in the middle of the desert?
Until the 1980s, copper quarries operated in the place. Once they closed, the groundwater flooded it, resulting in the spectacular lake.
It is important to emphasize that despite the attractive and inviting appearance of the lake, it is an area owned by the mining company – and getting to the site can be dangerous from a safety point of view: the cliff that borders the lake is surprising and not visible from a distance, and bathing in the saltwater of the lake is not recommended. One must be especially careful not to swallow them (they are also terribly bitter).
The Copper Mines in Timna
Copper mining took place in the Timna Valley as early as prehistoric times. Operations resumed after the establishment of the State of Israel, and in 1951 new mines were established and commercial mining of copper began, in ten open and underground mines, using heavy mechanical equipment.
More than 50 km of underground tunnels were excavated, on several levels branching off from one of the open mines. The southern end of the mine was connected to a vertical service shaft through which ore was raised from the depths of the earth. At their peak, the mines produced about 16,000 tons of copper a year, employing about 1,000 people.
In 1976, the copper mines were closed for the first time, due to operating losses resulting from the decline in global copper prices. In 1980, an attempt was made to renew the production of copper, and to add to this the production of manganese. The experience did not go well and the mining activity was finally stopped in 1984, after heavy operating losses.
Today, following the closure of the plant and the cessation of water pumping, the underground mine is mostly flooded with groundwater. The lake is the opening to which jeeps and trucks would descend.
Timna Hidden Lake – The Route
The hidden lake in Timna is about a ten-minute walk (about a kilometer) from the makeshift car park located in the upper area of the quarry (details on arrival to the side to follow). This is a moderate descent on a wide and comfortable route (but exposed to the sun, prepare accordingly).
Once we pass a nice vantage point overlooking the lake (most people stop there for a quick picture), we will continue down a winding and steeper road through a narrow and long opening in the rock that continues to the lakeshore.
Near the vantage point overlooking the hidden lake, we can see another spectacular phenomenon called “Timna Cracks”, another remnant of the old copper mine that dried up and left behind large cracks about two meters high.
It is recommended to bring food and drinks and enjoy a pleasant picnic by the lake.
Going back to the car is done in the same way, only this time on an upward trend (which takes a little longer, about 20 minutes).
How to get to Timna hidden lake
The hidden lake is about a 5-minute drive from Timna Park and about 20 minutes from Eilat. We will reach the place by driving on Route 90 heading south, passing the entrance to Timna Park, and continuing straight for another two kilometers, until we turn right onto a paved road, and from there drive to a concrete structure where we turn right again onto a dirt road.
Continue driving on the dirt road, to our left a fenced cliff, for a short time – until we reach the makeshift vehicle parking. Here we will park and continue on foot to the lake.
In Waze: “Timna Hidden Lake”
What’s in the water?
We get the answer to this question with the help of Moshe Buzaglo, a 26-year-old diving enthusiast from Migdal Haemek, who documented the lake from an extraordinary angle – underwater.
In an interview with YNET (in Hebrew), he told of the experience: “The water was a mysterious neon-green color and there were strange structures at the bottom with shimmering and beautiful stalactites. We reached a depth of 20 meters and the soil at the bottom was like soft jelly. When I touched her with my hand I felt it could get into it in its entirety. Although there are no fish in the lake, we got to see a strange little creature in white – and we have no idea what it was.”
He uploaded a video of the experience on his YouTube page:
Also in the area: Part 41 of the Israel National Trail.