Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-06-18
The Sea Of Galilee.

The Sea OF Galilee, the Sea OF Tibe.
rias, or Lake Of Gencsareth, is a sheet
OF water formed by the expansion of
the bed of Jordan. 1t is about twelve
and a quarter miles long from north
to south, and at its broadest part six
and thrce-quarter miles from east 20
west. But its width is by no means
regular, its shape being that OF pear
or leg of mutton, the broadest part
toward the north, and the more pro.
jecting sido toward the west, the east
ern shore being bycomparison straight,
except near tho lower end. 1t is full
of fish. It's waters, thick and muddy
at the extreme north, become clear
and bright as they approach its mar
row end for Jordan, which flows into
it foul stream, leaves the lake pure
and sweet river. The surface is from
six hundred TO seven hundred feet be-
low the level Of the Mediterranean
The climate is genial in winter, and
not excessively hot in summer. With
shores that riso but gently, in most
parts, from the basin, and whose color
is uniformly brown where seen above
the foliage at their bases, the scenery
would be tame were IL not for the fine
hills, including the snowy tops OF
Hermon, 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
hacked .bv broad plains. showing ut
others the opening oflong gorges, and
elsewhere, especially to the north, be-
ing broken into many and charming
bays. Volcanic action seems to be en-
ergetic; tharo are hot springs in tho
basin of the lake, and very serious
earthquakes occur. Wild boar are to
be found on q plain to the northeast.
Those who have formed q mental
picture of this sea so often recurring
in sacred story-as who in childhood
has not-havo no doubt imagined
water covered with ships and boats,
resounding with the noise of sailors
and fishermen, and fankcd by many
proud cities, rich in merchandise and
glorious to tho sight. Alas, for these
visions! The cities, and the men, and
the traffic pere there, but they have
now disappeared SO completely that
the waters Of the lake may be said TO
sleep amid o solitude. AS for tho IA
nous cities, of most of them IL cannot
be said with certainty where they
were, and the survey now in progress
first begins to give us some reliable
data for identifying their ruins; one
or two romain, but not as cities small,
dirty Arab villages alone represent
those busy towns, wherein wero done
'mighty works." such as would have
overcome the obduracy of Tyre and
Sidon. Tiborus is there on tho west
coast, rather below the center of the
lake. It's sea wall, broken columns,
towers and acqueducts attest the glory
of its ancient estate but the modern
Tiberias is but poor collection OF
houses, chiefly inhabited by Jews who
have returned TO Palestine. Its filth
and vermin have become a provorb.
About four miles north Of this, heap
of ruins, now named Mejdel, marks
the sito Of that Magdala where Mary
Magdalcne had her home. North of
this again is the plain of Gencsercth,
an area Of great beauty and fertility,
along which, sad G. say, are setcral
heaps Of ruins, denotlng probably the
places OF old towns and villages wherc-
In our lord taught. Blackpood's.