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The area of the special zone is roughly 10,500 dunams (2,625 acres). It includes the dense and lively Old City skirted in the east, south and west by the steep ravines and valleys of Hinnom and Kidron. These historical valleys have preserved their natural character of stony slopes with olive trees, cemeteries and ancient buildings. They were designated as a National Park of 500 acres. Across these valleys rise the impressive hills of Mount Scopus, the Mount of Olives, the Mount of Offence and Government Hill, which are partly built-up with residential quarters and public buildings. These hilly ridges are to be developed into organic neighbourhoods and Mount Scopus is to be the site of the enlarged Hebrew University campus.
The immediate objective of the scheme was to determine the use of the land, to define existing and future residential areas, to prescribe building heights and density and to designate special sites for religious and public buildings, hotels and pilgrims' centres, gardens parks and natural reserves.