Lake of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee - its other name) in Israel is most often called Kinnerit. Its coast is one of the lowest land areas on the planet (in relation to the level of the World Ocean). According to legend, 2 thousand years ago, Jesus Christ read sermons on its banks, resurrected the dead and healed the suffering. Also, it was there that he walked on water. The lake is the main freshwater source for all of Israel.
History of the name of the lake
Lake Tiberias takes its name from the city of Tiberias (now Tiberias). Although it has other names. For example, in ancient times it was spoken of as the Sea of Galilee. There is another name, according to the area - Lake of Gennesaret. In modern times, it is most often called the Kinneret. According to one version, it got its name from a musical instrument called kinor, according to another - in honor of the pagan deity Kinara.
Location
Lake Tiberias is located in the northeast of Israel, between the Golan and Galilee. It is located in the northern part of the Syrian-African Rift. Its shores are 213 meters below the level of the World Ocean. The area of the lake is 165 square kilometers, the depth is 45 meters. Its coastline is 60 kilometers long. The city of Tiberias was built on its western side.
From the northern side, several rivers flow into Lake Tiberias, which begin at the Golan Heights. One of them is the Jordan, flowing from the reservoir from the south. Lake Tiberias is considered the lowest flowing freshwater reservoir on the planet.
Features of Lake Tiberias
Lake Tiberias is one of the main fishing places in Israel. Now almost two thousand tons of fish are caught there every year. It is home to a total of over 20 species. Moreover, some, such as the Kinneret sardine or tilapia (St. Peter's fish), live only in Lake Tiberias.
Sometimes the shores of the lake are attacked by hordes of fire ants. Its surface is usually calm, but there are small sudden storms. The water is dark blue due to the bas alt sand at the bottom of the reservoir. And despite the fact that it is fresh, it has a slight s alty aftertaste.
Lake of Tiberias as part of the legend
Lake of Tiberias (Israel) was mentioned in the Old Testament. According to legend, on its shore, in the city of Kfar Nahum (now Capernaum), Jesus Christ lived. His apostles Peter and Andrew fished in the lake. Jesus Christ preachedon its banks. And they baptized him, according to legend, where the Jordan River flows out of the lake. This place is called Yardenit. Pilgrims have been coming there since ancient times. The water in this place is considered sacred. Therefore, pilgrims still take baths there and offer prayers to the Almighty.
What attractions are there on the shores of Lake Tiberias?
Sights of Lake Tiberias are located along the entire coast. There is a small Franciscan church on the north side. On a hill called the Sermon on the Mount stands a monastery.
Lake Tiberias (Israel) is known for its kibbutzim. One of them - Ein Gev - is located on the coast, 13 kilometers from Degania. Previously, there was a border with Syria. It often hosts annual traditional music festivals that take place during the Easter week. The best musicians of Israel and foreign artists come to them. Concerts are held in the open-air amphitheater.
On the south side, 1.5 km from the lake, on the banks of the Jordan, is the Jewish kibbutz Dgania. It was founded in 1909 by a group of Ukrainian youth. At its gate stands a small Syrian tank, which was shot down during the war.
Not far from the lake you can see the ancient Roman city of Beit Shean. On the Golan Heights are Gamla and the graves of great Jewish rabbis. Where the Jordan River flows into the lake, an amusement park with water attractions has been built. In the Golan Heightsmany picturesque waterfalls. And not far away is the fortress of the Crusaders Belvoir.
What attracts tourists to Lake Tiberias?
There are many beaches along the entire coast of Lake Tiberias. Some of them are paid. There are many hot springs rich in mineral s alts and sulfur. Some of them are used by tourists for medicinal purposes. There are a lot of tasty and rare fish in the lake, which attracts gourmets here. The most sought after and popular fish is tilapia.
Tourists are very attracted to the Hamat Gader nature reserve. There are thermal springs in it, when bathing in them, pains in the joints and body, skin diseases and a number of other ailments are treated. The water there year-round maintains a temperature of 42 degrees. In Hamat Gader, Roman baths were found during archaeological excavations. And it houses the largest crocodile nursery in the Middle East, home to 200 individuals of a wide variety of species.
The Importance of Lake Tiberias for Israel
Lake of Tiberias is the largest source of fresh water for Israel. It is considered the main reservoir of the country. A third of the water that all of Israel consumes comes from Lake Tiberias. In 1994, an agreement was signed between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan, according to which it is annually supplied with 50 million cubic meters of fresh water. Most of it is taken from Lake Tiberias. Deliveries do not stop even during the emergence of local conflicts between these countries.
Last years in the lakeTiberias marked a decrease in water levels. And if it continues to shallow, then this promises Israel hard times. The water level in the Dead Sea is also decreasing. And it feeds on the waters of the Jordan River, which, as mentioned above, flows precisely from Lake Tiberias.
Reducing water consumption from Lake Tiberias is possible only after the construction of desalination plants on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Or you need to drill wells to groundwater. But all these works are very inconvenient financially, as they will require a lot of expenses, and it takes a lot of time to build them.
Vasily Polenov, "On Lake Tiberias"
Artist Polenov came to Lake Tiberias during his trip to the East. He planned to paint a series of paintings about Jesus Christ. Therefore, Polenov wanted to personally see these historical places where the Savior lived, preached and walked on water.
In 1888, Polenov painted the second painting from the cycle dedicated to the Savior. He called it "Christ walks along the seashore." Otherwise - "On the Lake of Tiberias." Now it is exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery.
To write his picture, Polenov used his impressions from visiting Lake Tiberias. The beauty of these places and the idea that Jesus walked here helped create a peaceful and at the same time majestic landscape. It reflects the "soul" of the lake with its calm blue water and small mountains nearby. Polenov described the ideal, eternal beauty of the lake.
