The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-06
The Sea of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tibe-
rias, or Lake of Genesareth, 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 it's broadcast part six and
three-quarter miles from east to west.
But its width is by no means regular,
its shape being that of pear or a leg
of mutton, the broadest part toward the
north, ard the more projecting side to-
ward the west, the eastern shore being
by comparison straighter, except near
the lower end. 1t is full of fish. It's
waters, thick and muddy at the extreme
north, becomes clear and bright as they
approach its narrow end for Jordan,
which flows into it foul stream, leaves
the lake pure and sweet river. The
surface is from 600 to 700 feet below
the Mediterranean. The climate is
genial in winter, and not excessively
hot in summer. With shores that rise
but gently, in most parts, from the be-
sin, and whose color is uniformly
brown where seen above the foliage at
their bases, the scenery would be tame
were it not for the fine hills, including
the snowy tops of Hermon, which can
be seen all around through the trans
parent 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 plans,
showing at others the openings of long
gorges, and elsewhere, especially TO the
north, being broken into many and
charming bays. Volcanic action appears
to be energetic; there are hot springs
in the basin of the lake, and very seri-
GUS earthquakes occur. Wild boars are
to be found ON a plain to the north
east.
Those who have formed a mental pic
ture of this sea so often recurring in
sacred story-as who in childhood has
not ?-have, no doubt, imagined water
covered with ships and boats, resound-
ing with the noise of sailors and fisher
men, and hanked by many proud cities
rich with merchandise and glorious to
the sight. Alas for these visions the
cities, the men and the traffic IUere there,
but they have disappeared so complete
Iy 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 the survey now in pro-
gress first begins to give us some relia-
ble data for identifying their ruins;
one or two remain, bit not as cities;
small, dirty Arab villages alone repre-
sent those busy towns. wherein were
done mighty works." such as would
have overcome the sinful obduracy of
Tyre and Sidon. Tiberias is theEe, on
the west coast, rather below the center
of the lake, Its sea-wall, broken col
umns, towers, acqueducts, attest the
glory of its ancient estate; but the
modern Tiberias is but poor collec-
ton of houses, chiefly inhabited by
Jews who have returned to Palestine.
It's filth and vermin have become pro-
verb. About four miles north of this,
q heap of ruins, now named Mejdel,
marks the site of that Magdala where
Mary Magdalene had her home. N0rth
of this, again is the plain of Genesa-
reth, an area of great beauty and fer
tility, along which, sad to say, are sew
eral heaps of rubbish, denoting, proba4
bly, the places of old towns andvillages
wherein our Lord Taught