The Jordan River: What To Expect When Visiting The Famous River (2024)

The Jordan River (known in Arabic as Nahr Al-Urdun and in Hebrew as Ha-Yarden) is one of the most famous rivers in history. The first thing visitors will notice when visiting the lower stretches of the Jordan River is that it is tiny. Even so, the Jordan River is one of the most significant attractions in Jordan and Israel today.

Israel and Palestine are full of many sites of interest (including Jericho - the oldest and lowest settlement on earth located near the Jordan River). In Jordan, people can visit the Jordan River as part of a larger trip visiting Petra and the famous Wadi Rum.

View of a baptism site at the Jordan River

The Jordan River Flows To The Dead Sea But Is Disappearing

The Jordan River begins north of the Sea of Galilee on Mount Hermon (which forms the border between Lebanon and Syria). The Jordan River flows for 251 kilometers or 156 miles through the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea (the exact length of the river depends on where and how it is measured).

Over its course, the river drops ever more below sea level to around 422 meters low sea level, where it empties into the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth (and one of the oldest held resorts). There is no exit from the Dead Sea, and all the water evaporates.

The structural depression it flows through has the lowest elevation of any river on Earth. The Jordan Valley is a northern extreme of the East African Rift System that runs through much of the continent of Africa.

• Length: 251 kilometers or 156 miles

The Jordan River is tiny. The water is generally silty and slow-moving. This is partly due to much of its water being diverted for agricultural use since 1964. This, in turn, means that little water reaches the Dead Sea, and the Dead Sea is evaporating and dropping all the time.

View of The Jordan River

The flow rate of the Jordan River was once around 1.3 billion cubic meters annually. In modern times that has been reduced to around 20 to 30 million cubic meters that actually reach the Dead Sea.

Related: What You Should Know About Camping And Glamping In The Famed Wadi Rum Desert

Why The Jordan River Is So Significant & Main Visiting Site

The Jordan River is a key attraction for pilgrims in Israel and Jordan. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible, and it is said to be where John the Baptist baptized people (including Jesus of Nazareth). Today the river is of significance to both Judaism and Christianity.

• Main Baptism Site: Yadrenit Baptismal Site
• Admission: Free (White Ropes For Rent)
• Opening Hours: 8:00 am till 5:00 pm (Hours Vary)

It is popular for pilgrims to come and be baptized in the Jordan River - mostly in the first section of the Lower Jordan.

At the Yadrenit Baptismal site, the waters of the Jordan are relatively crisp and clean, located just at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. There are churches and monasteries found along the Jordan River as well.

Aerial view of the Jordan River

Related: Why Israel Is A Tiny Yet Diverse Country That Impresses Everyone

The Jordan River Is The Modern International Border

The Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee in the north (actually a freshwater lake) to the Dead Sea (actually an extra salty lake). Today the Jordan River can be visited from the country of Jordan on the east (one of the most visitor-friendly countries in the Middle East) and from Israel and the West Bank to the west. The Jordan River forms the border between the countries.

• Countries: Jordan, Israel, Palestine (West Bank)

Both the nation of Jordan and the West Bank take their names from the historic river (the West Bank is on the west bank of the Jordan River). This means that visitors will be within a few meters of the neighboring country when visiting the Jordan River.

Visiting The Jordan River Today

The Jordan River can be visited from Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank. The river has changed significantly over the years. Wetlands have been drained, and floodplains that once had thickets of reeds, tamarisk, willows, and white poplars are now irrigated fields.

An aerial view of the Dead Sea under a blue sky

The Jordan River changes by the season. The high-water period is from January to March, and it is at its lowest in late summer and the beginning of autumn.

Visa:

• Jordan: Visa-on-arrival
• Israel: Visa-Free

Jordan is visa-on-arrival for most Western Passport holders, while Israel is visa-free. Perhaps the best way to visit the River Jordan is with an organized group tour - there are many of the historic sites of the region. Some tours even explore the river from both sides. The tours are a great way to really learn the deep history of the region and to bring the historical attractions to life.