Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-05-03
The Sea of GalliIee.

The Sea of Galilee, or Sea of Tibe-
rias, or Lake of Gennesareth, is sheet
of water formed by the expansion
of the bed of the Jordan. 1t
is about twelve and a quarter miles
long from north to south, and at its
broadest part, six and three quarter
miles wide from east to west. But its
width is by no means regular, its shape
being that of pear or leg of mutton,
the brOadest part toward the west, the
eastern shore being by comparison
straight, except near the lower end.
1t is full of fish. Its waters, thick
and muddy at the extreme north, be-
come clear and bright as they ap-
proach its narrow end for the Jordan,
which flows into it a foul stream,
leaves the lake pure and sweet river
The surface is from 600 to 200 feet be-
low the level of the Mediterranean.
The climate is genial in winter. and
not exceedingly hotin summer With
shores that rise but gently in most
parts from the basin, and whose color
is uniformly brown where seen above
foliage at their bases. the scenery
would be tame were it not for the fine
hills, including the snowy tops of Her
mon, which can be seen all round
through the transparent ether, and
for the innumerable effects of light
and shade. Shrubs and blossoms add
to the beauty of the coasts, which vary
continually, being sometimes backed
by broad plains, showing at others the
openings of long gOrges, and else
where, especially to the north, being
broken into many and charming bays.
Volcanic action appears to be energet-
ic there are hot springs in the basin
of the lake, and very serious earth
quakes occur. Wild boar are to be
found on plain to the northeast.
Those who have formed mental
picture of this sea, so often recurring
in sacred histOry-as who inchildhOod
has not t?-have no doubt imagined a
water covered with ships and boats,
resOunding with the cries of sailors
and fishermen, and fanked by many
proud cities rich in merchandise and
glorious to the sight. Alas for such
visions the cities and the men and
traffic were there, but they have dis
appeared 50 completely that the waters
Of the lake may be said to sleep amid
a solitude. As for the famous cities,
of most of them it cannot be said with
certainty where they were, and this
survey now first begins to give us some
reliable data for identifying their
ruins. One or two remain, but not as
cities small, dirty, Arab villages alone
represent those busy towns, wherein
were done mighty works, such as
would have overcome the sinful obdu-
racy of Tyre and Sidou. Tiberias is
there, on the west coast, rather below
the center of the lake. Its sea-wall,
broken columns, towers, aqueducts, at
test the glory of its ancient estate; but
the modern Tiberias is but poor col
lection of houses, chiefly inhabited by
Jews who have returned to Palestine.
Its filth and vermin have become
preverb. About four miles north of
this, heap of ruins, now named
Mejdel, marks the sight of that Mag
dala where Mary Magdalene had her
home. North of this, gain, is the plain
Of Gepnesareth, an area of great
beauty and fertility, along which, sad
to say, are several heaps of rubbish,
denoting, probably, the places of old
towns and villages wherein our Lord
taught.-Blackloood's Magazine.