WADI GAZA
Known for the distinctive feature of twists and turns, Wadi Gaza has eight major curves in its path across the Gaza Strip. Its width varies, with its widest point near its mouth where it reaches about 100 meters. Six smaller rivers feed into the main valley, the most important of which are Wadi Abu Qatroun to the north and Wadi Ghalbeh to the south.
The location of the Gaza Strip, at the corner of the land bridge that connects the continents of Africa and Eurasia, makes it a bottleneck for migratory birds. Thousands of ducks, herons, storks, cranes, flamingos, waders, raptors, quails, passerines, and other birds have been reported to pass through Wadi Gaza. The most common endemic bird is the Palestinian sunbird (Nectarinia osea), which is found throughout the year in the Gaza Strip.
Studies show that there is an urgent need to protect Wadi Gaza as a wildlife habitat. The threats to the area are quite severe. Wadi Gaza faces many environmental problems, one of the most pressing of which is that it is used to collect sewage from refugee camps and as a solid-waste dumping site.