As Israel’s largest lake, the Sea of Galilee – which locals call the Kinneret, its Hebrew name – has long been the country’s main source of fresh water. (Photo: Courtesy)
The Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water and calmed the storms, according to Matthew 14:22-36, has this week registered its highest water level in 16 years due to heavy rains in the country.
According to officials who spoke to Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, the water level has been rising at a rate of 2.5 cm per day.
Also known as Lake Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee is right now 7.3 inches short of the “Upper Red Line.” If it reaches that, authorities urge that they may consider opening a dam to prevent flooding.
Steve Brenner, a water specialist from Bar-Ilan University, told The Times of Israel that opening the dam would benefit the Jordan River, and in turn raise the level of the Dead Sea. Uri Schor, spokesman for Israel’s Water Authority, said that the chance of the dam opening is 50%.
As recently as 2018, Israel’s Water Authority warned that the Sea of Galilee was drying up as a result of low rainfall, and warned that it was approaching the “black line,” after which damage to the water quality from silt and other problems is likely to begin.
The historical waters had sunk to a 100-year low. A number of small islands had emerged at the water’s surface. Apparently, officials were even considering topping it up with desalinated seawater.
