Gush Dan (Hebrew: גּוּשׁ דָּן) is a metropolitan area including areas from both the Tel Aviv and the Central Districts of Israel. It is located along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. It constitutes most of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the country, with an estimated population of over 3 million.
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History
The name Gush Dan means "Dan Bloc", and is so named because the area was the territory of the tribe of Dan in the ancient Kingdom of Israel. According to the biblical narrative, the tribe had originally tried to settle in the central coastal area of Canaan, but due to enmity with the Philistines who had already settled there, were only able to camp in the hill country overlooking the Sorek Valley. The camp location became known as Mahaneh Dan ("Camps of Dan"). The region they attempted to settle included the area as far north as Joppa and as far south as Shephelah in the area of Timnah. As a result of the pressure from the Philistines, the tribe abandoned hopes of settling near the central coast, instead migrating to the north of the country. After conquering Laish, the tribe refounded it as their capital and renamed it Dan. As a result the region is referred to as Gush Dan.
Metropolitan rings
Gush Dan is divided into an inner and an outer ring.
The inner ring consists of the Tel Aviv District and includes the cities Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat HaSharon, Ramat Gan, Giv'atayim, Bnei Brak, Herzliya, Or Yehuda, Giv'at Shmuel and Kiryat Ono, as well as a multitude of smaller towns (local councils).
The outer ring includes the cities Petah Tikva, Hod HaSharon, Kfar Sava, Ra'anana, Yehud, Ramla, Lod, Rosh HaAyin, Rishon LeZion, Ness Ziona and Rehovot, as well as many smaller towns (local councils).
Transportation
The Dan Bus Company is primarily focused on serving the Gush Dan, although it is being replaced by the Kavim company in many of the Gush Dan's cities. Much of Israel's national highway network feeds into the area, such as Highway 1, Highway 2, Highway 4, and Highway 5. Gush Dan is also served by the local Ayalon Highway. Israel Railways, the state owned, national rail network provider, also feeds most traffic into or within the Gush Dan region. The Tel Aviv Light Rail, currently under construction, will also be a major feature in the regions future transport, as will thehigh speed service to Jerusalem
See also
References
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