River Jordan

	There are a number of places on the River Jordan which could have been the site of Jesus' baptism. Yardenit just South of the outlet from the Lake of Galilea is where most of the tourists are taken but has no greater claim than any of the other sites. Yardenit is rather better presented that the other religious attractions we visited earlier.
Many people come to the Jordan River to be baptised. There is plenty of provision for that at Yardenit, including full immersion.
	The water is not particularly clear, but the enormous number of fish suggests that it is clean enough to support life.
Upstream is pretty built up with concrete steps and safety railings. Downstream looks completely different, with overhanging trees and loose rocks down to the water's edge. The River is actually little more than a lazy stream. A lot of water is now taken out of the Lake of Galilea for drinking and irrigation. The flow of the Jordan River is much less than it used to be .. the Dead Sea is gradually drying up.
	While many of our group were filling souvenir bottles with rather murky Jordan River water, Sue and I were content to look at the fish.
There was the inevitable shop, selling bottles of Jordan River water and souvenir bottles to fill up yourself, but overall it was in much better taste than other places.

River Jordan (Yardenit)