ISRAEL: Fourteen teams from different parts of the world set their hot air balloons aloft in Israeli skies

Fourteen hot air balloons took flight in southern Israel as part of a festival being held in the region for the first time. The Hot Air Balloons Festival took place this year in Timna Park in southern Israel. From September 30 until October 2nd, residents and tourists enjoyed the view of 14 hot air balloons taking off in the desert skies. The balloons were operated by fourteen different amateur and professional teams from across the globe. Host-country Israel had one team participating in the festival. Organisers said that holding the festival in Israel was a special achievement because much of the country has strict restrictions on usage of its airspace. Some of the participants in the festival said they hope the spectacle becomes a yearly event. Timna Park is located north of the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat. Located in the middle of the Red Sea Desert, Timna Park features attractive natural, archaeological and historical sites. Many residents of the area said they hoped the event would increase tourism.

ITN Source | October 15, 2007

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