How does the Jordan River flow through the Great Rift Valley?

The Jordan River flows through the Jordan Valley, which is a segment of the East African Rift System. This structural depression creates a long, narrow trough that lies significantly lower than the surrounding landscape, with valley walls that are steep and sheer.1

The river’s path through this rift is characterized by the following features:

• Northern Course: Rising at the foot of Mount Hermon, the river flows south through the Hula Valley and cuts a gorge through a basaltic barrier before dropping into the Sea of Galilee.1
• Southern Course: Exiting the Sea of Galilee, the river continues south through the rift, dividing Israel and the West Bank from Jordan. In this section, the valley floor—known as the Ghawr—features arid terraces and a maze of ravines.1
• Meandering: The river follows a highly meandering course through its floodplain, the Zūr, before eventually draining into the Dead Sea, which is the lowest land point on Earth.1