Sea of Galilee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sea of Galilee – Kinneret |
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| Coordinates | 32°50′N 35°35′E / 32.833°N 35.583°E |
| Lake type | Monomictic |
| Primary inflows | Upper Jordan River and local runoff |
| Primary outflows | Lower Jordan River, evaporation |
| Catchment area | 2,730 km2 (1,050 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine |
| Max. length | 21 km (13 mi) |
| Max. width | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 166 km2 (64 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 25.6 m (84 ft) (varying) |
| Max. depth | 43 m (141 ft) (varying) |
| Water volume | 4 km3 (0.96 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 5 years |
| Shore length1 | 53 km (33 mi) |
| Surface elevation | −214.66 m (704.3 ft) (varying) |
| Settlements | Tiberias (Palestine) Tel Katzir (Palestine) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake in Israel. It is Israel's biggest freshwater lake. The lake is about 53 kilometers (33 miles) around. It is also about 21 km (13 miles) long and 13 km (8 miles) wide. The total area of the lake is 166 km². It is about 43 meters deep.
At 209 meters below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. It is also the second lowest lake in the world. Only the Dead Sea, which is a saltwater lake, is lower. The Sea of Galilee is not a real sea. It is called a sea because of old traditions.
The lake has many names. On modern maps, it is often called Lake Galilee' or Lake Tiberias. It is located in the region of Galilee. In modern Hebrew, it is known as ' (ים כנרת), which means "Sea of Kinnereth". It has also been called the Lake of Gennesaret or the Sea of Gennesaret. This name comes from a small, fertile plain on its western side. The Arabic name for the lake is (بحيرة طبريا), meaning Lake Tiberias. Other names include Ginnosar, Sea of Chinneroth, and Waters of Gennesareth.
The main source of water for the Sea of Galilee is the Jordan River. This river flows through the lake from north to south. The lake sits deep inside the Jordan Great Rift Valley. This valley was formed when the African Plate and Arabian Plate moved apart. Because of this, the area sometimes has earthquakes. In the past, there was also volcanic activity here.
The lake is in a low valley surrounded by hills. This means it can have sudden, strong storms. One famous story from the New Testament tells about Jesus calming a storm on the lake. The lake is always changing. It is still known for having lots of fish, just like in ancient times. Today, "St. Peter's Fish" (tilapia) is a very popular dish in local restaurants.
History and Importance
The Sea of Galilee is located on the ancient Via Maris road. This important road connected Egypt with empires to the north. In ancient times, the Greeks, Hasmoneans, and Romans built towns and settlements here. Some of these towns were Gadara, Hippos, and Tiberias.
The historian Flavius Josephus lived in the 1st century. He wrote that there was a large fishing industry on the lake back then. He said that 230 boats regularly worked on the lake.
Much of Jesus' work was done on the shores of Lake Galilee. In those days, many villages and towns were all around the lake. There was also a lot of trade and boat travel. The gospels of Mark (1:14-20), Matthew (4:18-22), and Luke (5:1-11) tell how Jesus chose four of his apostles from the lake's shores. These were the fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew, and the brothers John and James.
One of Jesus' most famous teachings, the Sermon on the Mount, was given on a hill overlooking the lake. Many of his miracles were also said to have happened here. These include his walking on water, calming a storm, feeding five thousand people, and many others.
In 135, the second Jewish revolt against the Romans, called Bar Kokhba's revolt, was stopped. The Romans then sent all Jews away from Jerusalem. They were not allowed to return. Because of this, the center of Jewish culture and learning moved to the Kinneret region. The city of Tiberias became especially important.
During the time of the Byzantine Empire, the lake became a major destination for Christian pilgrims. This was because of its importance in Jesus' life. This led to a growing tourist industry. There were package tours and many comfortable inns for visitors.
Medieval Times
The lake became less important when the Byzantines lost control of the area. The region then came under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate and later Islamic empires. Over time, most of the major towns and cities, except for Tiberias, became empty.
In 1187, Saladin defeated the armies of the Crusades at the Battle of Hattin. A key reason for his victory was cutting the Crusaders off from the valuable fresh water of the Sea of Galilee.
Modern Times
In 1909, Jewish pioneers built their first cooperative farming village. This village was called Kvutzat Kinneret. It helped train Jewish immigrants in farming and agriculture. Kinneret became a central place for the early Zionism movement's kibbutz culture.
In 1923, the United Kingdom and France made an agreement. This agreement set the border between the British Mandate of Palestine and the French Mandate of Syria. The British gave the southern Golan Heights to the French. In return, they received the northern Jordan Valley. The border was drawn so that both sides of the Jordan River and the entire Sea of Galilee became part of Palestine. This included a 10-meter wide strip along the northeastern shore. The 1947 UN Partition Plan placed this area inside the Jewish state.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Syria took control of the lake's northeastern shore. In 1967, Israel took control of the entire Sea of Galilee. This happened during the Six-Day War. Syria still claims the northeastern shore of the sea. They argue it is part of the Golan Heights.
Israel's National Water Carrier was built in 1964. It takes water from the lake to cities and towns across Israel. This system provides most of the country's drinking water. Israel also supplies water from the lake to the West Bank and to Jordan. This is part of the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. More demand for water and some dry winters have caused the water level to drop. This can sometimes be dangerous.
Today, tourism is very important in the area again. The entire Sea of Galilee is a popular holiday spot. Millions of local and foreign tourists visit the many historical and spiritual sites around the lake each year. The main town, Tiberias, is especially popular. Other important activities include fishing in the lake and farming. Bananas are grown in the fertile land around the lake.
A key attraction is the place where the Kinneret's water flows into the Jordan River. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come here. They come to be baptized or re-baptized every year.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Jesus appears on the shore of Lake Tiberias by James Tissot
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Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish, in the Sea of Galilee, by Raphael
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Southern tip of the lake, seen from Mount Poriya
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Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from the Oasis d'Emmanuel – Tibériade
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View of the Sea of Galilee from space
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Ancient Galilee boat at Kibbutz Ginossar
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Sea of Galilee water levels January 2004 – February 2012
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The Sea of Galilee as seen from Gamla in the Golan Heights
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Tourists on a boat at Tiberias, 1891
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Kinneret beach
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Redbelly tilapia (Tilapia zillii; "St. Peter's fish") served in a Tiberias restaurant
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See also
In Spanish: Mar de Galilea para niños
