Our Planet’s Landmarks Series #4
The Bahá’í Faith is all about teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people. It was established by Bahá’u’lláh in 1863. Initially, it grew in Iran and parts of the Middle East. Ever since its inception, it faced ongoing persecution. Despite such hostility, it spread out to most parts of the world. Currently, it has between 5 and 7 million followers, known as Bahá’ís.
For all intents and purposes, the Bahá’í Gardens Haifa Israel are considered the international headquarters of Bahá’í faith.
The Bahá’í Gardens Haifa Israel
Beginning at Mount Carmel’s base, the gardens extend almost one kilometre (0.6 miles) up the side of the mountain. These beautifully-landscaped gardens cover around 200,000 sq mt (or about 2 million sq ft) of land.
The layout of the gardens bears a huge significance to the followers of the Bahá’í faith. Its nine concentric circles provide the main geometry of the eighteen terraces. The Shrine of the Báb being at the
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Given the strides Israel has made in drip irrigation, it is not surprising the irrigation system of the gardens too is awesome. Its nerve centre is a computer. Based on meteorologic data it receives, this computer controls hundreds of valves that distribute water across the gardens through sprinklers and drip irrigation tubes. To avoid wastage of water by evaporation, the irrigation is done during the nights and the early mornings. Even the water that flows alongside the stairs is circulating in a closed system within each terrace, so that little water is wasted.
Incidentally, the gardens are framed by a panoramic view of the city, the Galilee Hills and the Mediterranean Sea. For Bahá’í Faith, lotus motif is sacred. Little wonder you’d find it even in the Bahá’í Gardens Haifa Israel as a little lotus-shaped pond at the gardens’ entrance.
Along with the Bahá’í Holy Places in Western Galilee, The Bahá’í Gardens Haifa Israel was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
 up the side of the mountain... - The Bahá'í Gardens Haifa Israel){kind=link}