Jordan River, the only important river of Israel and Jordan, rises in the springs of Mount Hermon in Syria. The river is 200 miles (320 kilometers) long. It flows for about 100 miles (160 kilometers) and then falls to the area of Lake Hula (now completely drained). The Jordan empties into the Dead Sea.
In the 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Lake Hula area to the Sea of Galilee, the river falls 689 feet (210 meters). Its many rapids make navigation impossible. Much of the rest of the river is not more than about 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep, except in March. Then, the melting snow from Mount Hermon often causes the river to flood.
The Bible says Joshua led the Children of Israel over the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3: 1-17). Christ was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17).
The southern half of the river forms the border between the West Bank and Jordan. The northern section forms part of Israel’s borders with Jordan and Syria. The waters of the Jordan are used for irrigation.
