Galilee, Sea of, is a small freshwater lake in northern Israel (formerly Palestine). It is often mentioned in the Bible. It is called the Sea of Chinnereth and the Sea of Chinneroth in the Old Testament. The name Galilee is used in the New Testament. This sea is also called Gennesaret, for the plain that lies to the northwest; and Tiberias, for a city on its shore. The sea is also known as Lake Kinneret.
The Sea of Galilee lies in the Rift Valley in Israel, 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Mediterranean Sea. It touches the Golan Heights of Syria on the northeast. The Jordan River flows through the Sea of Galilee on its southward course to the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is 14 miles (23 kilometers) long and 8 miles (13 kilometers) across at its broadest point. Many fish live in it. Gently sloping hills lie along the shores, except where the plain of Gennesaret meets the sea. Figs, olives, dates, and pomegranates grow on the southern hills.
The ancient cities of Magdala, Capernaum, and Bethsaida were once situated on the northern shores of Galilee. Today, only ruins of them remain.
