"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٥‎٣] (٧٣٨/٥١١)

500
SAMARIA (INCLUDING CARMEL)
Physical Features
Relief .—The watershed of Carmel, forming a fine ridge and
attaining an average level of some 1,600 ft. in its middle part,
lies near its north-eastern side. The slope on this side is
therefore short and in parts precipitous and descends abruptly
to the plain of Esdraelon. On the other side the slope is
gentle. Long, parallel and gradually sloping spurs or ridges,
known sis fersh (plu. ferdsh), gradually lengthening southward
and divided by deep rugged valleys, run westward out of the
watershed. The slopes at the ends of these spurs, however,
are often abrupt and in places cliffs fall to the maritime
plain, as at ‘Araq el-Masalimeh N. of Tireh and at Wadi
el-Maghareh, S. of the lat. of ‘Athllt. The valleys between
the ridges are narrow, winding, and often rocky, but, near the
watershed, at Daliyeh, ‘Usufiya and other spots, small level
plateaux occur. The descent from the ridge to W. el-Milh, on
the SE., is also very abrupt. The district as a whole therefore
forms an almost detached block of elevated ground, diversified
by wild gorges, small level or undulating plateaux covered
with brushwood, and protruding rocky summits, and is
surrounded by plains. The maritime plain on the western
side is long and narrow, measuring from 1-2 miles at its
southern and widest part and not more than 200-300 yds. at
the foot of the Carmel headland in the north. Considerable
sections of the plain are marshy and unhealthy, especially
south of ‘Athllt and Tanturah.
The main ridge of Carmel, its most prominent physical
feature, extends for some 14 miles from the headland on
which the Carmelite monastery stands, and consists of an undu
lating crest forming a succession of low peaks (ra’s, plu. ru'us)
or dome-like summits. It rises from an elevation of 470 ft.
above sea-level at the monastery to an extreme elevation of
1,808 ft. at a point about 12 miles to the south-east, whence
it falls rapidly into W. el-Milh and an elevation of about
480 ft. at Jelamet el-Mansurah. The chief summits of the
ridge taken in order from the north-west are Jebel es-Sitt