The ‘Sea’ of Galilee is actually a … LAKE

So I learnt on my visit in December 2019.

It is also the lake where ‘Jesus walked on water’ and the place where numerous miracles of biblical relevance, occurred.

Technically this “sea” is a freshwater lake, fed by underground springs and the Jordan River.

Nestled in the mountainous Galilee region in northern Israel, the shimmering blue jewel that is the Sea of Galilee contrasts dramatically with the surrounding hills, which are green in the spring, brown during the dry season.

The Sea of Galilee been called different names throughout history such as Lake Kinneret, Lake Tiberias, Sea of Genneseret, according to the various empires, seasons and communities on its shores.

The name that prevailed and made its way into Modern Hebrew is Kinneret, which originates from the Hebrew word ‘kinnor’ meaning harp, possibly relating to the shape of the lake.

A popular activity is a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

It was a perfect afternoon for a cruise – gentle waves, cool breezes and tranquil waters as our group set sail on the beautiful and spiritual Sea of Galilee.

In honour of guests, the Malaysian anthem was sung as the flag was raised followed by the Singaporean anthem and flag.

The crew then amped up the fun, by clearing the deck of chairs and inviting guests to sing and dance along.

Perched on the bow, I watched sea gulls battle head winds and amazing views of the shoreline, Mount Arbel and distant mountains surrounding the lake.

Sea of Galilee Facts

Also known as Ginnosar, Lake of Galilee, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake of Gennesar, Sea of Chinnereth, Sea of Chinneroth, Sea of Kinnereth, Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Tiberias, Waters of Gennesaret, Yam Kinner
The Sea is located in northeastern Israel, near the borders with Jordan and Syria.
It is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, covering 166 sqm (64 square miles) with a circumference of 53 km (33 miles), roughly the size of Liechtenstein.
At 215 m (705 ft) below sea level with a maximum depth of 43 meters (141 feet), it stretches 21 km (13.2 miles) from north to south and is nearly 13 km (8.1 miles) wide.
It is Israel’s largest source of fresh drinking water, supplying about one-third of the nation’s annual water requirement.
Its closest major city is Tiberias, which is along the lake’s west edge and is considered one of Israel’s holy cities.
According to the New Testament, the Sea of Galilee has become a pilgrimage site for many Christians to see the places where Jesus performed miracles.

Doing
THE TITANIC
as the sea breeze
whips forcefully

For Christians, the region is extremely important since most of the ministry of Jesus took place along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Four local fishermen were recruited from these shores as his first disciples.

The majority of Jesus’ recorded miracles, teachings and parables have been said to have occurred here; such as his walking on water, calming the storm, the miraculous catch of fish, the feeding of the five thousand and of course the Sermon on the Mount.

The “Jesus Boat,” also known as the “Ancient Galilee Boat,” is an ancient fishing boat that was discovered on the bottom of the Sea of Galilee in 1986.

The remarkably well-preserved 2,000-year-old boat is now on display at the Yigal Alon Museum in Kibbut Ginosar, Israel.

St Peter’s fish
The tilapia is a common freshwater fish found in the Sea of Galilee, locally called “St. Peter’s fish”.

The authentic St. Peter’s fish is best eaten whole – fish, skin, head, tail and fins. Just scrape back the skin and eat it like the 5,000 in Jesus’s time. Fried or grilled, served with lemon and side dish (rice / baked potato / french fries).

Jordan-Holyland-Egypt
Full Itinerary 29 Nov – 10 Dec 2019