Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley is a significant geological and geopolitical feature of the Levant.

It forms a major part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. In a narrow sense, the term refers to the lower course of the Jordan River. This specific section begins where the river exits the Sea of Galilee in the north. It continues southward until the river reaches its end at the Dead Sea.

In a broader sense, the valley can include the Dead Sea basin and the Arabah valley. The Arabah is a rift valley segment that continues south of the Dead Sea toward Aqaba and Eilat.

Geologically, the Jordan Valley is a long and narrow trough. The width varies across the landscape, but it often narrows significantly. As the river approaches the Dead Sea, the valley widens into a delta. This area is unique because it is the lowest elevation on Earth. The valley begins below sea level (BSL) and terminates at a point even lower than BSL. On both the eastern and western sides, the valley is defined by high, steep escarpments. These cliffs rise from the valley floor by heights ranging from 250 to 1,100 meters.

The valley serves as a vital biological corridor for various species.

During the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, the Levantine corridor facilitated human migration. Genetic studies suggest this route was more important for bi-directional human movement between Africa and Eurasia than the Horn of Africa. Today, the valley is an essential part of a global bird migration route. It forms the Eastern Route, alongside the Western and Southern-Eilat Mountain routes. An estimated 500 million birds from 200 species fly across the region twice each year. They move between Asia, Europe, and Africa during the spring and autumn seasons.

The geography of the valley also dictates its climate and agriculture. The area is known as the Ghor, which refers to the segment south of the Sea of Galilee. This region is several degrees warmer than the surrounding areas. The combination of fertile soils, a reliable water supply, and a year-round agricultural climate makes it a key farming zone. In the Jordanian part of the valley, 80% of the farms are family-owned. These farms are typically small, usually no larger than 30 dunams, which is about 3 hectares or 7.4 acres.

Political history has deeply divided the valley into different administrative zones. From 1486 until 1918, the Ottoman Empire controlled the region.

Following World War I, the Sykes–Picot Agreement placed the valley within the British sphere of control. In 1921, the area east of the river became the Emirate of Transjordan. The area west of the river was designated as Mandatory Palestine in 1922.

This division established the concept of the "east bank" and "west bank." The Jordan River became the formal border between these two distinct political entities.

Demographic shifts have occurred due to various conflicts in the 20th century. Before the 1967 Six-Day War, about 60,000 Jordanians lived on the eastern side of the valley. Following the 1967 war and the 1970–71 "Black September" conflict, this population dropped to 5,000. However, government investment helped the Jordanian population rebound to over 85,000 by 1979. In the West Bank portion of the valley, Palestinian populations have also shifted. In 2009, approximately 58,000 Palestinians lived in this area. Many of these residents are concentrated in or near the city of Jericho.

Modern borders and settlements continue to define the valley's landscape. Much of the valley forms the border between Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. The 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty regulates these boundaries.

In the West Bank portion, Israel has allocated 86% of the land to Israeli settlements. As of 2014, the Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council contained 21 settlements with 4,200 residents. Meanwhile, about 10,000 Palestinians live in Area C, which is administered by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. This includes roughly 2,700 people living in small Bedouin and herding communities.