Paran, Israel
{{Short description|Place in the Southern District, Israel}}
{{Infobox Kibbutz
| name = Paran
| hebname = פארן
| image = File:Moshav Paran.jpg
| caption =
| foundation = 1971
| founded_by = Nahal
| country = {{ISR}}
| district = south
| council = Central Arava
| affiliation = Moshavim Movement
| popyear = {{Israel populations|Year}}
| population = {{Israel populations|Paran}}
| population_footnotes = {{Israel populations|reference}}
| pushpin_map= Israel negev mt#Israel |pushpin_mapsize=250
| coordinates = {{coord|30|21|47|N|35|9|13|E|display=inline,title}}
| website =
Paran ({{langx|he|פארן}}) is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the Arava valley around 100 km north of Eilat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Central Arava Regional Council. In {{Israel populations|Year}} it had a population of {{Israel populations|Paran}}.{{Israel populations|reference}}
History
The moshav is named after a passage in the Book of Genesis (21:20–21):Bitan, Hanna: 1948-1998: Fifty Years of 'Hityashvut': Atlas of Names of Settlements in Israel, Jerusalem 1999, Carta, p.56, {{ISBN|965-220-423-4}} {{in lang|he}} "And God was with the lad, and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt."
Economy
Each of the family farm units covers 50 dunams (50,000 m2). The main crops are high quality peppers and flowers for export. In addition, 14 of the families run a cowshed of 40-45 dairy cows each. Among the smaller farm branches are a date palm orchard and turkey production.
Some families supplement their income with other activities such as a horseback riding school, a nursery for vegetable and flower seedlings, cottage industries producing arts and crafts articles, and jeep tours.{{Original research inline|date=August 2009}}
In 2008 new rules in Israel made solar power profitable.{{Clarify|date=August 2009}} Some families started to produce electricity (commercially) from 50 kWp photovoltaic power plants (per family), using the area's high daily solar radiation and dry weather.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}
Services
The moshav offers its members a variety of community services including a kindergarten, nursery, members' club, youth club, swimming pool, garage, fitness, public gardens and a well-stocked library, minimarket.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Central Arava Regional Council}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places established in 1971