Geographic Details

The Jordan Rift was one of the four major vertical divisions of Israel, with the Coastal Plains and the Central Mountain Range to the west and the Transjordanian Highlands to the east. This latter section shares considerable overlap with the Jordan Rift, as the Plains of Jordan include portions of Moab, which is typically associated with the Transjordan region. The Jordan Rift consisted of the Jordan River and its valley. Additionally, the Bible refers to the Jordanian Wilderness—also called the Plains of Jordan or the Jordan Jungle—which is a subregion of the Jordan Valley.

The Jordan River is the largest river in Israel. It is formed from three tributaries just south of Mount Hermon in the northern region. These three tributaries—the Bareighit, the Hasbani, and the Banias—intersect at Lake Huleh. Huleh is roughly fifteen miles north of the Sea of Galilee, the next major body of water along the path of the Jordan. After the Sea of Galilee, the river flows south through the length of the country in a winding path for 135 miles until it terminates into the Dead Sea. Between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, the Jordan connects with a number of tributaries, the most important of which are the Yarmuk River and the Jabbok.

The Jordan is the world’s lowest-elevation river, and flows lower than sea level for much of its length. The river averages between 2 and 10 feet deep and 100 feet wide for most of the year; spring flooding increases both dimensions depending upon the amount of rain received during those months.