View source for Jordan River

{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Jordan River
| name_native        = {{native name list |tag1=ar |name1=نهر الأردن |tag2=ar-Latn |name2=Nahr al-Urdun  |tag3=he |name3= נהר הירדן |tag4=he-Latn |name4=Nahar ha-Yarden  |tag5=ar |name5=نهر الشريعة |tag6=ar-Latn |name6=Al Sharieat |tag7=syc |name7=ܢܗܪܐ ܕܝܘܪܕܢܢ }}
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         =
| name_etymology     = Hebrew: ירדן (yardén, "''descender''"), from ירד (yarad, "''descended''")<ref>Klein, Ernest, ''A Comprehensive [[Etymology|Etymological]] Dictionary of the [[Hebrew Language]] for Readers of English'', The [[University of Haifa]], Carta, Jerusalem, p. 264</ref>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = 20100923 mer morte13.JPG
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Jordan River
| map                = JordanRiver en.svg
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = The Jordan River runs along the border between Jordan, the Palestinian West Bank, Israel and southwestern Syria.
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], [[Syria]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Middle East]], Eastern Mediterranean littoral
| subdivision_type4  = District
| subdivision_name4  = [[Galilee]]
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|251|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| discharge1_location= [[Dead Sea]], Jordan Rift Valley
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Anti-Lebanon mountains|Anti-Lebanon Mountain Range]] at [[Mount Hermon]], [[Golan Heights]]
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|2814|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Dead Sea]]
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|−416|m|abbr=on}}
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = [[Banias|Banias River]], [[Dan River (Middle East)|Dan River]], [[Yarmouk River]], [[Zarqa River]]
| tributaries_right  = [[Hasbani River|Hasbani or Snir River]], [[Nahal Ayun|Iyyon Stream]]
}}
The '''Jordan River''' ({{lang-he|נהר הירדן}} ''{{transl|he|nehar hayarden}}'', {{lang-ar|نهر الأردن}} ''{{transl|ar|nahr al-urdun}}'') is a [[river]] in [[Southwest Asia]] that flows through the [[Great Rift Valley]] into the [[Dead Sea]]. Many people think it is one of the world's most [[Sacred site|sacred]] rivers.

It is {{convert|251|km}} long. Its [[Tributary|tributaries]] are:
# The [[Hasbani River|Hasbani]] ({{lang-he|שניר}}''senir'', {{lang-ar|الحاصباني}} ''hasbani''), which flows from [[Lebanon]].
# The Banias ({{lang-he|חרמון}} ''hermon'', {{lang-ar|بانياس}} ''banias''), that comes from a [[spring (hydrosphere)|spring]] at [[Banias]] at the foot of [[Hermon|Mount Hermon]].
# The Dan ({{lang-he|דן}} ''dan'', {{lang-ar|اللدان}} ''leddan'') with its [[Source (river or stream)|source]] at the foot of Mount Hermon.
# The Ayoun ({{lang-he|עיון}} ''ayoun'', {{lang-ar|عيون}} ''ayoun''), which flows from Lebanon.

The four rivers join to form the Jordan in northern [[Israel]], near [[kibbutz]] Sede Nehemya. The Jordan drops quickly in a 75 kilometer run to [[Lake Hula]], which is a little below [[sea level]] in the Galilee sea. Then it drops much more in about 25 kilometers to the [[Sea of Galilee]]. The last section has less [[stream gradient|gradient]], and the river begins to twist before it enters the [[Dead Sea]], which is about 400 meters below sea level and has [[Endorheic|no outlet]]. Two major tributaries enter this last section from the east: the [[Yarmouk River]] and [[Jabbok|Jabbok River]].

In 1964, Israel began operating a [[dam]] that takes water from the Sea of Galilee, a major Jordan River water provider, to the national water carrier. Also in 1964 Jordan built a channel that takes water from the Yarmouk River, a main tributary of the Jordan River. This caused great damage to the ecosystem. Syria has also built [[reservoir]]s that catch the Yarmouk's waters.

In modern times, 70% to 90% of the waters is used for human purposes and the flow is much smaller. Because of this, and the high [[evaporation]] rate of the Dead Sea, the sea is [[wikt:shrink|shrinking]]. All the shallow waters of the southern end of the sea have been drained in modern times, and are now [[Salt plain|salt flats]].

The water from the Jordan is a very important resource to the dry lands of the area. It is a source of conflict between [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]] and [[State of Palestine|Palestine]].

== In the Bible ==
In the [[Old Testament|Hebrew Bible]], the Jordan is referred to as the source of fertility to a large plain ("Kikkar ha-Yarden"), called "the garden of [[God]]" ([[Genesis]] 13:10). There is no regular description of the Jordan in the Bible.
The [[New Testament]] states that [[John the Baptist]] baptized [[Jesus]] in the Jordan (Matt. 3:13).

== Symbolic importance ==
The Jordan is a frequent symbol in [[Folk music|folk]], [[Gospel music|gospel]], and [[Spiritual (music)|spiritual]] [[music]], or in [[poetry|poetic]] or [[literature|literary]] works.

Because the [[Israelite]]s made a difficult journey from [[slavery]] in [[Egypt]] to freedom in ''The Promised Land'', the Jordan can be a symbol of freedom. The actual crossing is the final step of the journey, which is then complete. Also, the Jordan can mean death itself, with the crossing from life into [[Paradise]] or [[Heaven]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.iwrm-smart.org/ SMART - Multilateral project for sustainable water management in the lower Jordan Valley]
* [http://www.wdl.org/en/item/148 An old map of the Jordan River] from the 1800s

{{Jordan topics}}
{{Israel topics}}

[[Category:Rivers of Israel]]
[[Category:Geography of Jordan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Syria]]
[[Category:West Bank]]