Want to get baptized in the Jordon River?

[Guest Zayit]

Ever dreamed of going to Israel and being baptized in the spot where John baptized Jesus? Well those dreams may be in the past according to this article.

Jordan River threatened by dams and sewage

Amman - The Jordan River, where Christians believe Jesus was baptised, is heavily polluted with sewage and is in danger of drying up after decades of conflict and intense agricultural use, environmentalists said on Friday.

"The Jordan River will disappear if nothing is done soon. More than half of it is raw sewage and runoff water from agriculture. What keeps the river flowing today is sewage,"

[JewishHeart]

The temporary and most popular baptism site won't be affected because it lies exactly exiting from the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) as at least there will be no dam or harm from the couple meters between the site and the Sea of Galilee. However, the biblical site and the least popular baptism site near Jericho and the Dead Sea could very well be affected.

The most beautiful part of the Jordan River, that could also be affected if Syria puts a dam and pollution, is the part that runs from Syria, through the Golan, to the North side of the Kinneret (Galilee).

The Jordan River is not a river though, its a creek. However, it is very beautiful on the site of the former site of Bethsaida in a park called the "Jordan River Park." There are trails that run all along the river the even give breathtaking views. One , you have to climb a mountain and look down at it while afterwards going down to the river.

Edited June 26, 2005 by JewishHeart

[JewishHeart]

Another two beautiful swimming sites I reccomend is:

1.) Sachne - natural pools stretching out like a lake located near Bet Shean on the edge of Mount Gilboa.

2.) Sataff - natural pool flowing from cave spring in the Judean mountains in between Jerusalem, Mevasseret Tzion, and Bet Shemesh. There are also a series of caves to explore in which the trails run to be natural springs. Bring a flashlight and a bathing suit.

More to come...

[Guest yod]

The temporary and most popular baptism site won't be affected because it lies exactly exiting from the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) as at least there will be no dam or harm from the couple meters between the site and the Sea of Galilee. However, the biblical site and the least popular baptism site near Jericho and the Dead Sea could very well be affected.

The most beautiful part of the Jordan River, that could also be affected if Syria puts a dam and pollution, is the part that runs from Syria, through the Golan, to the North side of the Kinneret (Galilee).

The Jordan River is not a river though, its a creek. However, it is very beautiful on the site of the former site of Bethsaida in a park called the "Jordan River Park." There are trails that run all along the river the even give breathtaking views.  One , you have to climb a mountain and look down at it while afterwards going down to the river.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the headwaters of the Jordan are at Banias (Caesarea Phillippi) and it comes out from under Mt Hermon, right?

That would put every bit of the Jordan in Israel except the eastern bank parts that border Jordan.

At least that is what they tell the tourists....

[yomotalking]

In Bible Times, it would have been a lot cleaner......

Yomo

[Guest Zayit]

Such a shame too as they have been excavating what they feel is the true spot wher John baptized, near the dead sea, which must be the most polluted of all.