The Negev Desert occupies much of southern Israel and includes the city of Beersheba.
The Negev is a triangular desert region covering more than half of Israel’s land area. Its landscapes include rocky plateaus, dry riverbeds called wadis, craters formed by erosion, and sandy areas. Beersheba is the region’s largest city and a major center for settlement, education, and administration.
The desert has a long human history. Archaeological sites show ancient agricultural settlements that used runoff farming, and the Nabataeans developed trade routes and water-management techniques in the region. Modern Israel has also invested heavily in irrigation, research, and desert agriculture.
The Negev is distinct from the Judean Desert east of Jerusalem and from the Sinai Desert across the border in Egypt. Those regions are nearby and share arid conditions, but they are separate geographic areas.