Jordan River
Jordan River | |
---|---|
Classical Syriac) | |
Location | |
Country | Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine |
Region | Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean litoral |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Confluence of Hasbani River and Dan River |
• location | Sde Nehemia kibbutz in northern Israel |
• coordinates | 33°11′15″N 35°37′10″E / 33.18750°N 35.61944°E |
• elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
Mouth | Dead Sea |
• elevation | −416 m (−1,365 ft) |
Length | 251 km (156 mi) |
Discharge | |
• location | Dead Sea, Jordan Rift Valley |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Yarmouk River, Zarqa River |
• right | Hasbani or Snir River, Iyyon Stream |
The Jordan River or River Jordan (
The river holds major significance in Judaism and Christianity. According to the Bible, the Israelites crossed it into the Promised Land and Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist in it.[1]
Etymology
Several hypotheses for the origin of most of the river's names in modern languages (e.g., Jordan, Yarden, Urdunn), one is that it comes from Semitic 'Yard|on' 'flow down' <√ירד reflecting the river's declivity, possibly appearing also in other river names in the region such as
In
After the Crusades, the Arabic name Nahr Al Sharieat (
Geography
Sources
The Dan and Hasbani rivers merge near the kibbutz Sde Nehemia in northern Israel and become the Jordan river.
The Hasbani (Arabic: الحاصباني Hasbani, Hebrew: either שניר Snir or Hatzbani), is a stream which flows from the north-western foot of Mount Hermon in Lebanon,[11][12] with a flow of 118 million m3 annually.[13] The Iyyon (Hebrew: עיון Iyyon, Arabic name: Ajoun stream,[12] but دردره Dardara for the uppermost course and براغيث Bareighith or Beregeith for the rest of its course) is a stream which flows from Merj 'Ayun area in southern Lebanon into the Hasbani.
The Dan (Arabic: اللدان Leddan or Liddan, Hebrew: דן Dan) is the largest among the Jordan's upper course tributaries with c. 240-252 million cubic metres per year, about twice as much as the Hasbani or the Banias,[12][13] a stream whose source is also at the base of Mount Hermon.[14][12]
The
Upper course (Hula Valley)
The Jordan River has an upper course from its sources to the
Over its upper course (fed by the Hasbani River, Banias River, Dan River, and the Iyyon Stream), the river drops rapidly in a 75-kilometre (47 mi) run to the once large and swampy
Its section north of the Sea of Galilee is within the boundaries of Israel and forms the western boundary of the Golan Heights. South of the lake, it forms the border between the Kingdom of Jordan (to the east), and Israel (to the west).
Lower course
South of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River receives the waters of further tributaries, the main ones, both coming from the east (Jordan), are:
Smaller tributaries or "side wadis" / "side streams" in this segment are, north to south[17]
- from the east (6–10 in total)[17]
- Wadi al-'Arab[18]
- Wadi Ziqlab[18]
- Wadi al-Yabis[18]
- Wadi Kafranja[18] or Kufrinjah passing near Ajloun
- Wadi Rajib, the last before Wadi Zarqa[18]
- Wadi Nimrin[18]
- from the west
- Nahal Yavne'el[18]
- Nahal Tavor (Tabor Stream)[18]
- Nahal Yissakhar[18]
- Nahal Harod[18]
- Nahal Bezeq, on the border between Israel and the West Bank, between Mount Gilboa and the Samaria Mountains[18]
- Wadi el Maleh from the Samaria Mountains[18]
- Wadi al-Far'a coming from the Nablus area[18]
- Wadi Auja[18] (Arabic) or Nahal Yitav (Hebrew)
History
19th century
In the 19th century the River Jordan and the Dead Sea were explored by boat primarily by
20th century
In 1964, Israel began operating a pumping station that diverts water from the Sea of Galilee to the
In modern times, the waters are 70% to 90% used for human purposes[citation needed] and the flow is greatly reduced. Because of this and the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea, as well as industrial extraction of salts through evaporation ponds, the Dead Sea is rapidly shrinking.[citation needed]
Environment
Ecology
The Jordan River basin has a unique ichthyofauna as it serves as the meeting point for several different biogeographic regions, including the northern Palearctic, the Afrotropics, East & South Asia, and the Mediterranean. Native fish include cyprinids such as the Jordan bream (Achanthobrama lissneri), Jordan himri (Carasobarbus canis), Jordan barbel (Luciobarbus longiceps), Levantine scraper (Capoeta damascina; the most common native fish in the basin), red garra (Garra rufa), & Damascus garra (Garra nana), hillstream loaches such as the Palestine loach (Oxynoemacheilus insignis), catfish such as the African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), cichlids such as the blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii), & mango tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus), and blennies such as the freshwater blenny (Salariopsis fluviatilis). The Jordan bream and Jordan barbel are thought to be endemic to the Jordan River basin. The Jordan basin may have also served as the center of diversification for several now-widespread Palearctic fish groups.[21]
A native freshwater reptile is the Balkan terrapin (Mauremys rivulata), which is thought to have also been a food source for the earliest Neanderthal residents of the region.[22]
Main environmental issues
Reduction of water flow
The flow rate of the Jordan River once was 1.3 billion cubic metres per year; as of 2010, just 20 to 30 million cubic metres per year flow into the Dead Sea.[23]
Pollution
A small section of the northernmost portion of the Lower Jordan, the first ca. 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) below the Sea of Galilee, has been kept pristine for baptism and local tourism. Most polluted is the 100-kilometre downstream stretch—a meandering stream from above the confluence with the Yarmouk to the Dead Sea. Environmentalists say the practice of letting sewage and brackish water flow into the river has almost destroyed its ecosystem. Rescuing the Jordan could take decades, according to environmentalists.[20] In 2007, FoEME named the Jordan River as one of the world's 100 most endangered ecological sites, due in part to lack of cooperation between Israel and neighboring Arab states.[24]
Invasive species
Several introduced species of fish are known from the region, including common carp (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), black carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and sea mullet (Mugil cephalus). Many of these introduced fish either prey on or outcompete native fish and threaten their populations, especially the more endangered species.[21]
Roads, border crossings, bridges
Roads
Border crossings (open bridges)
There are two border crossings between Israel and Jordan which cross the river over bridges. The northern one, Jordan River Crossing or Sheikh Hussein Bridge is near Beit She'an; the southern one, Allenby Bridge (also King Hussein Bridge), is near Jericho.
Bridges (historical; modern: open and closed)
North to south:
- Daughters of Jacob Bridge (Hebrew: Gesher Bnot Ya'akov, "Daughters of Jacob Bridge") is the most famous one within Israel
- Arik Bridge at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee; allows access to the central Golan Heights, was crucial in the 1967 and 1973 wars
- Al-Sinnabra, at the spot where the river used to exit the Sea of Galilee in the past; few remains excavated by archaeologists
- Jisr el-Majami' north of Beit She'an/Beisan; closed
- Damiya or Adam Bridgehalfway between Jericho and Beit She'an; closed
- King Abdullah Bridge south of the Allenby Bridge; closed.
Importance as a water source
Until the first decade of the 21st century, the waters of the Jordan River had been the largest water resource for Israel; lately,
Conflict about the waters of the Jordan River was a contributing factor to the Six-Day War when, starting in 1965, Syria attempted to divert some of its headwaters in collaboration with Lebanon and Jordan.[28] The diversion works would have reduced the water availability for Israel's carrier by about 35%, and Israel's overall water supply by about 11%.[29]
Religious significance
Hebrew Bible
In the
Opposite Jericho, it was called "the Jordan of Jericho" (Numbers 34:15; 35:1). The Jordan has a number of fords, and one of them is famous as the place where many Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah (Judges 12:5–6). It seems that these are the same fords mentioned as being near Beth-barah, where Gideon lay in wait for the Midianites (Judges 7:24). In the plain of the Jordan, between Succoth and Zarthan, is the clay ground where Solomon had his brass-foundries (1 Kings 7:46). In 2 Kings 6:1–4 the Jordan valley is portrayed as a woodland region. Biblical commentator Albert Barnes suggested that "trees were rare in most parts of Palestine, but plentiful in the Jordan Valley".[30]
In biblical history, the Jordan appears as the scene of several miracles, the first taking place when the Jordan, near Jericho, was crossed by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 3:15–17). Later the two tribes and the half tribe that settled east of the Jordan built a large altar on its banks as "a witness" between them and the other tribes (Joshua 22:10, 22:26, et seq.). The Jordan was crossed by Elijah and Elisha on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8, 2:14). The prophet and wonder-worker Elisha performed two miracles at the Jordan: he healed Naaman's leprosy by having him bathe in its waters (2 Kings 5:14), and he made an axe head lost by one of the "children of the prophets" float, by throwing a piece of wood into the water (2 Kings 6:6).
Yom HaAliyah (Aliyah Day, Hebrew: יום העלייה) is an Israeli national holiday celebrated annually on the tenth of the Hebrew month of Nisan to commemorate the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Land of Israel while carrying the Ark of the Covenant as recorded in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua.
New Testament
The
Jesus came to be baptised by him there (Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21, 4:1). The Jordan is also where John the Baptist bore record of Jesus as the Son of God and Lamb of God (John 1:29–36).
The prophecy of Isaiah regarding the Messiah which names the Jordan (Isaiah 9:1–2) is also reported in Matthew 4:15.
The New Testament speaks several times about Jesus crossing the Jordan during his ministry (Matthew 19:1; Mark 10:1), and of believers crossing the Jordan to come hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases (Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7–8). When his enemies sought to capture him, Jesus took refuge at the river in the place John had first baptised (John 10:39–40).
Scholars have concluded that the site called Al-Maghtas on the east side has long been considered the location for the Baptism of Jesus and a place of pilgrimage. This has led to choosing Al-Maghtas as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which took place in 2015.[32]
Derived cultural significance
Symbolism
Because, according to Jewish tradition, the Israelites made a difficult and hazardous journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, the Jordan can refer to freedom.[citation needed] The actual crossing is the final step of the journey, which is then complete.
Among many other references, the Jordan River is given this meaning in the text of
Christening of royals
Because of the baptism of Jesus, water from the Jordan is employed for the christening of heirs and princes in several Christian royal houses, such as the cases of
Christian poetry and music
The Jordan is a frequent symbol in
works.The baptism of Jesus is referred to in a hymn by the reformer Martin Luther, "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (1541), base for a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7 (1724).
The Jordan River, due primarily to its rich spiritual importance, has provided inspiration for countless songs, hymns, and stories, including the traditional African-American spiritual/folk songs "
See also
- Ænon
- Ed-Dikke synagogue
- Fair river sharing
- Island of Peace
- Jordan Rift Valley
- List of rivers of Israel
- List of rivers of Jordan
- Mandaeans
- Naharayim
References
Citations
- ^ "An Interfaith Look at the Jordan River". 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ Gelb, I. J. (1973). Glossary of Old Akkadian. University of Chicago Press.
- ISBN 978-0-86554-373-7. Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ISBN 978-965-223-565-7. Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ a b c Le Strange, Guy (1890). Palestine Under the Moslems: A Description of Syria and the Holy Land from A. D. 650 To 1500. Alexander P. Watt for the Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund. p. 52. Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- OCLC 65198443.
- ^ Robinson, p.257
- ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 167 (= SWP map 9): Esh Sheriah: The watering-place. This is the modern title of Jordan. The root means also to ´flow straight on or through: Palmer, 1881, p. 350 (= SWP map 18): Esh Sheriah: The watering-place. The Jordan. In literary Arabic it is called Urdunna.
- ^ The Development of the Jordan River. Arab Information Center. 1961. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
The River is composed of two important sections, the al-Sharea and the Jordan. The al-Sharea River, which is the name of the Jordan before it enters Lake Tiberias, descends from a height of 230 feet above sea level to Tiberias
- ISBN 978-1-317-60528-7. Archivedfrom the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Mark Zeitoun; Karim Eid-Sabbagh; Muna Dajani; Michael Talhami (2012). "Hydro-political Baseline of the Upper Jordan River". Beirut: Association of the Friends of Ibrahim Abd el Al (AFIAL) with the UEA Water Security Research Centre. pp. 19–23, chapter Sources of the Jordan (2.1). Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.06.003. Retrieved 20 July 2011.]
Rainfall and snowmelt of Mt. Hermon recharge the main tributaries of the UCJR: (1) Dan (252 x 106 m3 annually); (2) Snir also known as Hatzbani (118 x 106 m3); and (3) Hermon also known as Banias (106 x 106 m3) (Table 2 and Fig. 2).
[dead link - ^ a b Jordan River Archived 2020-08-06 at the Wayback Machine, Carta Jerusalem, accessed 82020
- ^ Zeitoun, Mark et al. (2012), p.36
- ^ Smith, William; Barnum, Samuel Weed (1871). A comprehensive dictionary of the Bible. New York/London: D. Appleton and company. p. 495.
- ^ a b c The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)] of the United Nations, Jordan Basin Archived 2020-08-04 at the Wayback Machine, based on 2009 "Water Report 34", accessed 18 April 2020
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Gafny, S. et al. (2010), Map of the Lower Jordan River Archived 2021-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 14 April 2020
- ^ "History of the Dead Sea - Discover the Dead Sea with Us!". 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b Plushnick-Masti, Ramil (10 September 2006). "Raw Sewage Taints Sacred Jordan River". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ a b Hamidan, Nashat (October 2004). "The freshwater fish fauna of Jordan" (PDF). Reise Durch die Natur Jordaniens. 17: 385–394.
- ^ "On the Banks of the Jordan River, Neanderthals Ate Turtles 60,000 Years Ago". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Jordan River could die by 2011: report". Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ "Endangered Jordan", Dateline World Jewry, World Jewish Congress, September, 2007
- ^ Susskind, Lawrence; Shafiqul Islam (2012). "Water Diplomacy: Creating Value and Building Trust in Transboundary Water Negotiations". Science & Diplomacy. 1 (3). Archived from the original on 2015-11-29. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
- ^ Gafny, Sarig; Talozi, Samer; Al Sheikh, Banan; Ya'ari, Elizabeth (May 2010). "Towards a Living Jordan River: An Environmental Flows Report on the Rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River" (PDF). ecopeaceme.org. EcoPeace / Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
- ^ "Surface and Groundwater of Jordan". Fanack Water. Fanack Water of the Middle East and North Africa. Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ Mehr, Farhang, "The politics of water," in Antonino Zichichi, Richard C. Ragaini, eds., International Seminar on Nuclear War and Planetary Emergencies, 30th session, Erice, Italy, 18–26 August 2003, Ettore Majorana International Centre for Scientific Culture, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pie. Ltd., 2004, p. 258, 259
- ^ "Appendix C: Historical review of the political riparian issues in the development of the Jordan River and basin management". Murakami. 1995. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
- ^ Barnes' Notes Archived 2018-01-06 at the Wayback Machine on 2 Kings 6, accessed 26 December 2017
- ^ Cf. Acts 19:4
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" (Al-Maghtas)". Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ Kate Connolly, "Once upon a time in Bulgaria" Archived 2015-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 20 June 2001.
- ^ "Baptized". Time. May 22, 1964. Archived from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
water from the River Jordan was sent for the occasion;
- ^ "Jah Lyrics: Burning Spear - Jordan River Lyrics". Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- TUT.BY. Archived from the originalon 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
Works cited
- OCLC 1004386.
- Palmer, E.H. (1881). The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 2. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
External links
- SMART – Multilateral project for sustainable water management in the lower Jordan Valley
- Inventory of Conflict and Environment (ICE), Jordan River Dispute
- "Map of the River Jordan and Dead Sea: And the Route of the Party Under the Command of Lieutenant W.F. Lynch, United States Navy" is a map from the mid-19th century of the River Jordan and Dead Sea, made under the command of William F. Lynch.
- "The Jordan River" in which John the Baptist baptized his cousin Jesus of Nazareth. (Yardenit.com)