The word jordan is derived from ancient Hebrew, meaning ‘descends’.The Jordan River is the watercourse flowing through the Biblical region of Canaan, which is modern-day Israel and Jordan. It’s also one of the world’s major rivers in terms of length, and size in terms of discharge, salt content, specific conductance, alkalinity, flood potential.There are significant cultural and religious implications to the river. The Jordan River was the boundary between Israel and Syria from the time of the Ancient Kingdoms (1,200–332 BC) until it was captured by Assyria in 732 BC. During this period, it was part of the great Royal Road that linked Egypt with Mesopotamia, Arabia, and Syria. It has been seen as having significance to all three Abrahamic religions, being sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. There is a belief among Muslims that a shrine marked at Mary’s Well marks the spot where Jesus’s mother Mary used to bathe, according to Islamic tradition.The main tributaries of the Jordan River are the Dan River, Jabbok River, Banias River, and Hasbani River. The Yarmouk River is also the main tributary of the Jordan River. Yarmouk’s waters cater to the requirements of a large portion of Syria. In the Hebrew Bible, the Jordan is referred to as the source of fertility to a large plain which is known as the Garden of God.Read on to understand the ecology, environment, and geographical location, as well as some facts which many do not know are related to the Jordan River Valley.Ecology And EnvironmentThe Jordan River is about 155 mi (251 km) long, and its watershed encompasses about 3,805 sq mi (9854.90 sq km) of south-western Asia. The river has a long history spanning millennia, but pollution in the last century has reduced its quality.Even so, more than a million people still depend on it for their livelihoods. Ecologists have been working to find solutions to improve the water quality and ameliorate the impact on humans and natural ecosystems alike. The Jordan River ecosystem is a valuable natural habitat, offering a unique glimpse into the at-risk ecosystems in the region. The river provides essential services for many communities and ecosystems along its course. About 1,219 plant species have been recorded in the Jordan River basin, representing about 8% of the total flora of Israel and Palestine, and 48 mammal species live in or near its waters, including gazelles, foxes, and jackals.In addition to its biodiversity , it is one of the few remaining habitats for many rare or endangered species, such as butterflies and fish. The ecology and environment of the River Jordan are very much influenced by climate change and, as a result, its natural resources are threatened by various man-made activities. One major concern with the ecology of the River Jordan is that it affects close to 1.2 million people in more than 150 villages from four countries along its course, not to mention covering an area of 1,351 sq mi (3,500 sq km).The River Jordan’s ecosystems are mostly under threat due to unsustainable human activities, such as agriculture and industrial development along the river basin. The ecological fabric of this region is under threat but there is a high level of uncertainty right now because no single ecological process has been empirically assessed so far. The Jordan River and its tributaries are considered to be especially important because their waters are used for many activities such as agriculture, mining, and tourism. One of the main threats is that the ecological balance is being disrupted by both the pollution of water resources and the altering of natural habitats.Fun Facts About The Jordan RiverSome amazing facts about the Jordan River have been listed below:The river Jordan, which was a freshwater lake about 500,000 years ago, has changed over time from being a swamp with different salt levels to a much more complex system that was almost completely dried out during an interglacial period about 130,000 years ago.In addition to being an important water source for domestic and agricultural purposes, it also serves as a natural habitat for many species; however, this has not been preserved properly. Continuous changes have affected both land and water ecosystems due to heavy population growth and urbanization.The River Jordan is the only river flowing through two sovereign countries, Jordan and Israel. It is also one of the few rivers in the world that flows into two seas, the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.The Jordan River’s most important role today is as a base source for drinking water for Israel and Jordan as well as water for irrigation, particularly of wheat and barley fields along its banks in Israel and Palestine.The Jordan River has a long recorded history, and there are many archaeological sites along its course. Traces of different human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic period were found along the banks of the river, as were burial mounds from thousands of years ago. Also discovered were caves with pictographs and petroglyphs, some dating back to the early Bronze Age.Geographical Location Of The Jordan RiverThe total length of the river is 155.96 mi (251 km), and its drainage basin covers about 1,703 sq mi (4,412 sq km), of which around (3,900 sq km) lies in Jordan.It has a discharge rate at Amman of around 92 ft3/s (2.6 m3/s), with a flow rate at Aqaba of about 1.6 ft3/s (0.04 m3/s). This makes it one of the largest sources of water for the region, especially in the dry summer months. The Jordan River flows through the West Bank and forms part of the boundary between Israel and Jordan on its course to the Dead Sea.It then joins with two streams, the Yarmouk River and Zarqa River, between the cities of Irbid and Zar’it; the combined stream is known as Zar’it Yam (river of Zar’it). The tributaries to the river are the Yarmouk River and Zarqa River, and the river then flows south from Lake Hula through Israel and Palestine, turns westward after the Gaza Strip, and finally empties into the Dead Sea.How large and deep is the Jordan River?Shallow, slow-moving rivers are less able to carry sediment, while fast-flowing ones move more sediment and deposit it along the river bed. This is why the slower Jordan River deposits more sediment than the faster tributary streams of the watershed.The waters of the Jordan River gradually become clearer as the lower Jordan is shallower and allows sediment to settle in its bed. The Jordan continues to flow eastwards to the Dead Sea, which is a saline lake that lies 1,396 ft (423 m) below sea level.The mouth of the river is a regional tourist attraction, and a place of strong cultural and religious identity. The Jordan River is a major water source for the region and a valuable natural asset. The Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee in the north-east of Israel, then to the Dead Sea, and all the way through Transjordan to join with the Red Sea in southern Jordan. The river is both deep and wide, more than 12 ft (3.6 m) at points after rainfall. In dryer periods, it narrows to between 30-40 ft (9.0-12.0 m) deep or less.The Jordan River has a long history of human habitation. In the lowlands along the banks, villages have been continuously occupied for thousands of years. Other areas further upriver are characterized by temporary occupations, while a few regions directly above the river have their own unique stories to tell. This long river has been used by people all along its route for many purposes over many thousands of years. Humans have always depended on water sources like this one for their survival needs whether they were building cities along its banks or irrigating crops in close proximity to it. Jordan is also a natural source of hydroelectric energy.The Jordan River is of both historical and environmental value. Climate change has seen a major call for the conservation and protection of the river. Even though adequate steps are being taken, it is essential to do whatever it takes to solve the issue from the root cause. Thus, the climate change issue needs to be fixed before the River Jordan becomes a part of history.
The word jordan is derived from ancient Hebrew, meaning ‘descends’.
