The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau located in southwestern Syria, about 60km (40 miles) southwest of Damascus, and covers about 1,000 sq km. It is a region in the Levant spanning about 1,800 km². The area was part of extreme southwestern Syria until 1967, when it came under Israeli military occupation, and in December 1981, Israel unilaterally annexed the part of the Golan it held. The Golan Heights has a political and strategic significance which belies its size. The area is also a key source of water for an arid region. Rainwater from the Golans catchment feeds into the Jordan River. The land is fertile, and the volcanic soil is used to cultivate vineyards and orchards and raise cattle. The Golan is also home to Israels only ski resort.

The Golan Heights is a contested area, and Syria demands the return of the territory. Syria tried to retake the Golan Heights during the 1973 Middle East war but was thwarted. Both countries signed an armistice in 1974, and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974. Israel is the suzerain of almost all of the Golan except for a narrow strip in the east that follows the Israeli-Syrian armistice line of June 10, 1967, which was later modified by the separation of forces agreement of May 31, 1974.

The Golan Heights is also a tourist destination, with a substantial tourist infrastructure, including the Mt. Hermon ski slopes, archaeological sites, hotels, restaurants, bed-and-breakfast/guest room facilities in many communities, and three Society for the Protection of Nature Field schools. There are also facilities for jeep and bicycle tours, as well as horseback riding. Israel has established 13 nature reserves – totaling 24,908 hectares – on the Heights. The Golan Archaeological Museum is located in Katzrin.