The Sea of Galilee is Israel's largest freshwater lake. It is approximately 53 kilometres (33 miles) in circumference, about 21 km (13 miles) long and 13 km (8 miles) wide. It has a total area of 166 km² and a maximum depth of approximately 43 metres.
At 209 metres below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world after the Dead Sea. It is not a sea by any normal definition, however it is called a sea by tradition.
The lake is also known on modern maps as Lake Galilee or Lake Tiberias. The name Galilee refers to the region of Galilee in which it is located.
The Sea of Galilee's main water outlet is the River Jordan although the Kinneret is fed by under ground springs. The river flows out of the Sea of galilee to the south and flows downwards into the Dead Sea.
This sea is a shallow sea with an average depth of 25.6 metres and a maximum depth of 43 metres. It has a surface area of approximately 166 km², a total length of 21 kilometres and a maximum width of 13 kilometres. Its shore length is around 53 kilometres.
The Sea of Galilee is located deep in the Jordan Great Rift Valley, the valley caused by the separation of the African and Arabian Plates. The area is subject to earthquakes and, in the past, volcanic activity. This is evidenced by the abundant basalt and other igneous rock that define the geology of the Sea of Galilee region. Due to its low-lying position in the rift valley, surrounded by hills, the sea is also prone to sudden violent storms.
A key attraction is the site where the Kinneret's water flows into the Jordan River. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to be (re-)baptized there every year.
