Mount Carmel

Highest point

  Elevation: 525.4 m (1,724 ft)

 Dimensions 
 Length: 39 km (24 mi)
 Width: 8 km (5.0 mi)

Naming
  Etymology: Literally, in Hebrew: God's vineyard and Mount St Elijah in Arabic.

 Geography
 Country: Israel
 District: Haifa
  Range coordinates: 32°44′N 35°03′ECoordinates: 32°44′N 35°03′E

 Geology
 Type of rock: Limestone and flint

A view of Mount Carmel in 1894

• The Carmel range is approximately 6.5 to 8 kilometres (4.0 to 5.0 miles) wide, sloping gradually towards the southwest, but forming a steep ridge on the northeastern face, 546 metres (1,791 feet) high.
• The mountain formation is an admixture of limestone and flint, containing many caves, and covered in several volcanic rocks.
• The sloped side of the mountain is covered with luxuriant vegetation, including oak, pine, olive, and laurel trees.

According to the Bible in 1 Kings 18, the challenge was to see which deity could light a sacrifice by fire. After the prophets of Baal had failed to achieve this, Elijah had water poured on his sacrifice to saturate the altar and then he prayed; fire fell and consumed the sacrifice, wood, stones, soil, and water which prompted the Israelite witnesses to proclaim, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!". In the account, Elijah announced the end to a long drought; clouds gathered, the sky turned black, and it rained heavily.

Panorama of the Carmel mountain range