Cataract of the Jordan
Dean Stanley compares the fountains and the cataracts which constitute the sources of the Jordan to a “Syrian Tivoli.” He says: “From the cave, from the ruins, from every chink and every cranny in the soil and rocks around, the water gushes forth, which soon collects into a torrent, dashes in sheets of foam down a rocky bed and at length plunges over a precipice into a dark ravine.” The cataract of the eastern branch of the Jordan, which we see in the above picture, is 1,000 feet above the level of the waters of Merom, which are on a level with the Mediterranean Sea. As these waters make a descent of 682 feet in the whole distance from Lake Huleh to the Sea of Galilee, and 610 feet from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, we are, therefore, at this point 2,292 feet above the Dead Sea, which shows that the fall of the River Jordan in a direct line, not more than ninety-five miles, is 2,292 feet. In making this descent, the Jordan runs with every point of the compass. It flows north, south, east and west. In some places the fall is equal to forty feet to the mile, in others it is eleven feet to the mile, and in others eighty-five feet. Some one has compared its movement to that of a “coiled serpent.” As the interior of the country is on either side for a great part of the year parched with drought it is only along the banks of the Jordan that the vegetation is green and fresh. For this reason the birds come from all the country round about and sing along the banks of the Jordan throughout the entire year. Thus did the multitude gather by this river from all parts of the land to hear the teachings of the Christ, which, like fountains of living water, refreshed the people.
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