Metula
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| Hebrew | מטולה |
| Government | Local council |
| District | North |
| Population | 1 400 (CBS end of 2003) |
| Jurisdiction | 2 000 dunams (2 km²) |
Metula (Hebrew: מטולה) is a small town (local council) in the North District of Israel. Metula is located between sites of the Biblical cities of Dan, Abel Bet Maacah, and Ijon, in Northern Israel bordering Lebanon.
[edit] History and early pioneers
Metula was founded in 1896 on lands bought from Druze land owners by Baron Nathan Rothschild. Its founders were 60 farming families from the more veteran settlements and 20 families of non-farming professions. Most of the founders were immigrants from Russia who were fleeing pogroms (riots against Jewish people that were taking place during that period in Russia) Other were pioneers ("chalutzim") from Petach Tikva (near Tel Aviv of today) joined in settling Metula. Some scholars from Safed also joined them. Half a century later, Holocaust survivors found refuge in Metula.
[edit] Area and population
The municipality governs a land area of 2,000 dunams (2 km²). According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), September 2003 Metula had a population of 1,400, predominantly Jewish. Metula was declared a local council in 1949. Also according to the CBS the population over the years was:
Israel's only Olympic size ice rink is located in a local sports complex.
[edit] Geography
Metula is located on the Israel-Lebanon border 6 kilometers north of Qiryat Shemona and at the elevation of 520 meters above sea level. Metula is the northernmost town in Israel, receiving annually near 900 mm of rainfall on average.
fr:Metoula
