Jordan Valley Valley

Address: Jordan Valley region (stretching from Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea)

The Jordan Valley is the segment of the Great Rift Valley running roughly along the Jordan River and forming a natural corridor between the Sea of Galilee in the north and the Dead Sea in the south; it spans parts of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The valley is an agriculturally productive strip in a tectonic rift, featuring riverine habitats, irrigation agriculture and a sequence of towns and archaeological sites along the Jordan River. It is also known for the dramatic drop in elevation toward the Dead Sea basin.

The Jordan Valley has been a transport and settlement corridor since prehistoric times and has been central to historic trade routes, agriculture and many recorded events in ancient and modern history.

The Jordan Valley stretches along the western border of Jordan; the provided coordinates lie in the northern Jordan Valley within Irbid Governorate, in a region of irrigated fields and riverine lowlands.

• Low elevation: Elevation falls progressively to the Dead Sea, the lowest land point on Earth at about 430 m below sea level, making the valley one of the planet’s most distinctive topographic features.

The Jordan Valley runs along the Jordan River and is accessible by road from Amman (Jordan) and from the north and south via regional highways. Specific sites require local transport arrangements.

• If exploring by car, plan border formalities and coordinates carefully; the Jordan Valley is a long, linear region.
• Visit agricultural terraces and kibbutzim (on the Israeli side) or archaeological sites and oases (on the Jordanian side) depending on access.
• Bring binoculars and a camera for birdwatching and landscape photography.