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Eight (8) km east of Jericho, is the river Jordan. Sadly, the western bank of the river with its many religious and historical sites are not accessible to tourists because it is a closed Israeli military zone. The Jordan is the longest river in Palestine (252km) but it can be a visual disappointment as it is neither wide nor deep. The Jordan is rather a shallow stream flowing from north to south and on into the Dead sea. Its significance lies in its historical and biblical associations. Much of the river runs parallel with the boundary between Jordan to the east and the West Bank and Israel to the west. It is part of the great rift valley which runs from Syria to Tanzania. Just before the point where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea, a number of bridges are found, the most important of which is the British built Allenby bridge, also known as Jesr Al-Karameh by the Palestinians and King Husein bridge by the Jordanians. It is the main crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan. King Abdullah Bridge lies to the south of the Allenby bridge, and between these two bridges lies the site of Jesus' baptism. The site is seasonally used by the Orthodox church; unfortunately, however, it is out of reach to tourists as it is a military zone and it is unsure when or whether this will change. |
