The Jordan Valley★
The Jordan Valley — Garden of Eden Between Worlds
The Jordan Valley stretches as a green strip along the western border of Jordan — from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south. Thanks to artificial irrigation, it is Jordan's breadbasket: Bananas, dates, tomatoes, olives, and citrus fruits grow here in the subtropical warmth, which rarely falls below 15°C even in winter.
For travelers, the Jordan Valley is primarily a transit area — road No. 65 (Jordan Valley Highway) connects the north (Umm Qais) with the Dead Sea and is an alternative to the King's Highway. Along the way, stops are worthwhile:
- Pella (Tabaqat Fahl): An ancient Decapolis city with ruins from the Bronze Age to the Mamluk period. Little visited, atmospherically located above the Jordan Valley. Free of charge.
- Tell Deir Alla: An excavation site with finds from the Bronze and Iron Ages, including an Aramaic inscription about the biblical prophet Balaam.
- Shuneh (North Shuna): A small town with a lively Friday market where the valley's farmers sell their produce.
The drive through the Jordan Valley offers contrasting landscapes: To the left, the barren, brown mountains of Jordan, to the right, the green fields of the valley, and on the horizon, the mountains of the West Bank. In winter, when the hills are green and wildflowers bloom, the route is particularly beautiful.
