The Jordan River
Jordan River, the chief river of Palestine, in southwestern Asia. It is shared by Israel, Jordan, Syria, and, if the river's longest headstream is included, Lebanon. The Jordan proper begins in northern Israel and flows southward for about 15O miles (240 km) to the Dead Sea, passing through the Sea of Galilee. Most of the river's course is below sea level, following a dry, deep, rift valley called the Ghor by the Arabs.
The Jordan is a relatively small river, shallow and unnavigable, but its water is essential to the Arabs and the Israelis and has long been a source of conflict. Israel channels water from the Sea of Galilee; Jordan and Syria divert water from the Yarmuk, chief tributary of the Jordan.