The Northern Shore: The Jordan meanders south from the Sea of Galilee. Over a hundred miles it falls two hundred meters before reaching the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea is long, narrow and drying up.
Low rainfall, evaporation, siphoning of water from the Jordan and the Yarmuk for farm and domestic use has reduced the flow of water from the Jordan. Over Twenty years the level of the Dead Sea has dropped by 17 meters. In 2006, it was 417 meters below sea level. It is rich in minerals. From the Dead Sea the land rises until it reaches the Gulf of Aqaba.
Salt encrustation
The Desert surrounding Jericho and the Dead Sea
A small Oasis
The Mount of Temptations overlooks Jericho.Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came... Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Mt 1:1-2, 8-10.
