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Why did dams change the vegetation of the Jordan River floodplain?
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Jordan River
Portion of the Jordan Valley, a rift valley that runs north-south along the Jordan River.
The construction of dams along the Jordan River has significantly altered the vegetation of its floodplain, known as the Zūr.
Historically, this area was characterized by thickets of reeds, tamarisk, willows, and white poplars, which thrived due to the river's frequent natural flooding. However, the building of dams to control the river's flow has prevented this regular inundation. As a result, the land that was once covered by these native thickets has been converted into irrigated agricultural fields.1