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Why is the Jordan River’s winding course much longer than the direct distance to the Dead Sea?

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Arid, rugged hills and winding roads in the Jordan Rift Valley, with the Jordan River and a small reservoir visible in the distance. — Jordan River Portion of the Jordan Valley, a rift valley that runs north-south along the Jordan River.

The Jordan River’s winding course is significantly longer than the direct distance to the Dead Sea because the river follows a highly meandering path.1

While the total length of the river is more than 223 miles (360 km), the actual distance between its source and the Dead Sea is less than 124 miles (200 km). Specifically, along the stretch between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, the river’s floodplain—known as the Zūr—describes so many meanders that the river travels approximately 135 miles (215 km) to cover a direct distance of only 65 miles (105 km).1

These meanders are equilibrium features that allow the river to maintain a consistent slope and flow efficiency as it moves through the Jordan Valley.12