Sea of Galilee Yam Kinneret

The Sea of Galilee or Lake Gennesaret (Hebrew Yam Kinneret) lies in the Jordan valley 210m/690ft below sea level. 21km/13mi long by 12km/7.5mi across and up to 46m/150ft deep, with a total area of 170sq.km/65sq.miles, it is Israel's largest reservoir of fresh water. Its water is piped to various storage basins and from there to the Negev.

An important source of income for the people living round the lake is the tourist and holiday trade, which is concentrated mainly on the northern and western shores; the east side of the lake is quieter. Another source of revenue which has a long tradition behind it is fishing; a local specialty, offered in all the lakeside restaurants, is St Peter's fish, a species of perch indigenous to the Sea of Galilee.

Biblical history

The "sea of Chinnereth" is referred to in the Old Testament account of the distribution of land to the tribes of Israel after their arrival in Canaan (Numbers 34,11; Joshua 13,27). It is frequently mentioned in the New Testament: Jesus found his first disciples at Capernaum on the northern shore of the lake, where he spent most of his time after leaving Nazareth, and there is the familiar story of Jesus and Peter being caught in a storm on the lake (Matthew 14,22-33; Mark 6,45-56).

The Sea of Galilee is one of the most beautiful spots in Israel, its charm enhanced by the luxuriant subtropical vegetation.