Jordan: From Origins to the Dead Sea

The Jordan Valley begins south of the Lebanese Valley. Very often, the proper name of a river, mountain or hill in Hebrew can reveal to us many of the real features of the place. Jordan in Hebrew – Yarden. The root yored is descending. It is impossible to more concisely and clearly convey the essence of this river. In addition, it is the only river in Israel that flows from North to South, and not from East to West. The Jordan feeds mainly on the melt snow of Mount Hermon. Some peaks of the Hermon Range are covered with eternal snows, and in winter almost the entire range disappears under a thick white blanket. Somewhere, during the Passover period, the melting begins, which nourishes the sources of the Jordan. The Jordan has three main tributaries: Hatzbani, Dan, and Banias. The highest height of Hermon is 2.814 meters. The height of the peak located on Israeli territory is 2.223 meters. The Jordan falls into the Dead Sea, and its mouth lies 400 meters below sea level. Since the length of the river itself in a straight line is about 150 km, one can imagine how fast its waters flow. Continue reading →