The Jordan River

Biblical Jordan River and Dead Sea are on the verge of environmental catastrophe: they are at risk of drying, environmental signals. Waters of the Jordan, in addition to the fact that they are heavily polluted, is used to irrigate fields and to provide human needs. Over the past 40 years, the inflow of water into the river has dropped by 90%. The threat is not just Jordan. It fully applies to the Dead Sea, which exists thanks to the waters of this river. The water level in the salt pond on the Earth each year is reduced by 1 m. The sea can dry completely for what - some 50 years. Experts call to take action and offer to perform the necessary hydro - and geological work that would help increase the flow of water. There are also views on the need to take under the protection of the entire Jordan Valley. The border between Jordan and Israel is a special place. It passes through the Jordan Valley, which is a deep tectonic lowlands and represents the northern branch of a major system faults, extending from eastern Africa across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan Valley and the Bekaa (Lebanon). In this valley runs a well-known thanks to the Old Testament legends Jordan River, which flows into the Dead Sea. The first people settled in the valley about 10,000 years ago. The favorable climate, fertile soil, as well as an abundance of moisture contributed to the fact that for centuries there has developed agriculture. Contrary to popular opinion, Jordan is not a major river. Its length is 252 km, of which the Jordanian territory over about 134 km. In Jordan, his fall into tributaries of the Yarmuk (on the border with Syria) and Zarqa. Channel width is about 30 m and depth does not exceed 5 m. In the lower reaches of the Jordan forms numerous meanders, and empties into the Dead Sea estuary. The river banks are covered with forests and thickets of shrubs. Among them are the tamarisk, acacia, rhododendron, verbena peppermint. In the waters of the Jordan there are more than 20 species of fish. On the shores of various live animals: porcupines, jackals, wild boars, wolves, goats, foxes, otters, and in the air hover noble eagles.