Most of Israel’s population is concentrated in the coastal plain, in big, bustling cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa, rebuilt ancient towns such as Acre (Ako) , Caesarea and Ashkelon and kibbutzim and rural communities, such as Ga’ash, Khavatselet ha-Sharon and Neve Yam. Between the cities and towns are national parks and nature reserves, including ha-Sharon and Apollonia National Parks.
The coastal plain is divided into six geographical sections from north to south: In the north is the Galilee coastal plain, which starts at Rosh ha-Nikra, on the Lebanese border. This is fertile region that has one city - Nahariya - and many agricultural communities. Off the coast are many small islands and the coastline is dotted with ancient sites such as Tel Akhziv and nature sites such as the Rosh ha-Nikra cliff.
The next region is the Acre coastal plain, which is crowded with urban communities - Acre and Haifa’s northern Krayot suburbs, but also has wide agricultural areas.
To the south of the Acre region is the Carmel coastal plain, which stretches from Rosh ha-Carmel in the north to Nakhal Taninim in the south. The soil here is rich, and many farming communities have been built around the region's major city, Haifa. This area has beautiful beaches and pre-historical sites such as Tel Shikmona and nature reserves, such as Dor ha-Bonim.
Continuing southward is the Sharon region bordered on the south by the Yarkon River. This is Israel’s busiest and most densely populated area, and also has a few nature reserves (Poleg and Nakhal Alexander) and important archaeological sites, such as Afek.
The next region is the central coastal plain, which stretches to Nakhal Shikma in the south. This region is also densely populated, with many cities such as Bat Yam and Rishon le-Tsiyon and agricultural communities. Among the archeological sites in this area are Tel Ashdod and Tel Ashkelon, and the nature reserves here include the Palmakhim Beach and Rekhes Gvar’am.
The southern coastal plain (the western Negev plain), is the last section of the coastal strip and extends into the northern Sinai Desert. This region is divided into to sub-sections: the Bsor region in the northeast and the Agur-Khalutsa beaches in the south. The Bsor region is a savannah-type area dotted with a relatively large number of communities, with flowers and lush greenery in the spring, while the Agur-Khalutsa beaches are a desert region with no towns or villages. The beaches are considered part of the Negev due to their climate, and attract particularly adventurous hikers.