arabic lit blue river second largest tributary lower largest river region annual discharge watershed encompasses densely populated areas east jordan river rises springs near flows deep broad valley identified biblical jordan elevation metres lower river heavily restoration priorities commonly identified biblical hebrew million years old river origin major archaeological site dates finds course river indicate area rich flora fauna past known amber deposits date era early cretaceous remarkable flora fauna reported amber reflecting tropical conditions prevailing time deposition modern arabic means blue river means river means blue biblical identified biblical river hebrew crossed way leaving leads west crosses jordan easily reach jacob eventually biblical cities adam mouth valley river mentioned connection meeting jacob struggle jacob angel genesis boundary separating territory described lying numbers territory described extending unto numbers reclaimed later places river philadelphia course begin northeast rising spring named spring river flows north heading west rising eastern mountains runs course kilometers wild deep flowing jordan river point meters origin higher reaches river banks steep canyon like near tributary join river opens shallow basin forms border administrative regions river perennial low base flow million million cubic meters month summer months million million cubic meters month rainy winter months makes second largest tributary lower largest river region annual discharge irregular floods rain storms increase flow million cubic meters median annual flow million cubic meters total basin area km2 largest jordan small dam dam near village marks end upstream portion river natural fast flowing clear water little agriculture banks river region rocky downstream dam water level low river banks agriculture grazing sheep goats king dam built lower created reservoir capacity million cubic meters increased million cubic meters built expected reservoir supply water municipal use region current levels pollution lake water unfit human consumption irrigation bridges new bridge crosses upstream reservoir road bridge site station flow measurements continuously taken city bridges pedestrian cross river earliest built founders city current bridges include bridge bridge connecting connecting king street pedestrian bridges connect natural history geological origins river million years old jordan rift valley formed effect formation creation river carved western edge earliest exposed formations area date early periods named formations rock formations marine sediments remnants prehistoric cover area running roughly east west halfway present find limestone alternating layer meter high layer lime iron rich stone sandstone layer rich fossils valley important connecting jordan valley flora archaeological finds remains indicate grow banks forests wild oak growing today widespread banks cultivated fruit vegetable fields course river water pumped directly crops vegetables potatoes olive trees found river banks grow river springs area water vegetation found natural pine forests grow king dam area upstream banks river runs wild finds common reed species waters highly contaminated high levels organic matter chemical compounds especially use water irrigation significantly altered biodiversity natural flora caused disappearance majority fresh water species fauna prehistoric times area rich fauna distinct animal species identified half wild animals goats common frequently occurring wild animal species today area home diverse population birds mammals breeding species found breed jordan bird species found european roller desert desert blue bee dam created lake habitat migratory fish species notable birds found lake area include little cattle grey white common lake waters sustain fish indigenous species introduced species common migratory birds winter man pools sewage treatment plant located broad depression close main tributary white spotted mammals found area include common persian considered threatened species history origin spring feeds major archaeological site dating period continuously occupied thousand years earliest finds date bce earliest known human settlements evidence animals population height largest prehistoric population centers time population neighboring survey valley number early iron age sites discovered concentrated banks tributaries research northern tributary flows modern city inhabited important city known home noted mathematician ruins city preserved extensively excavated jordan second largest city built banks largest settlement course today land plantations owned heirs clan rest owned tribe local tribes town founded immigrants population grew rapidly influx palestinian refugees fled day war environmental concerns river highly areas raw sewage flows directly river dry creating cause numerous complaints particularly summer months sewage treatment stations built couple locations including stations receive water handle overflow occurs winter floods summer months population increases return workers overflow water runs directly result water brownish colored dense foam large amounts organic matter sources illegal dumping industrial waste including textile factories batteries river watershed encompasses densely populated areas east jordan river flows area home jordan industrial plants including summer months treated domestic industrial waste water compose nearly flow substantially water quality coupled extraction water underground naturally low base flow created major problem described jordan environmental black spots rehabilitation priority restoration project estimated cost million
Zarqa River