Published: 5 May 2020
Last updated: 4 March 2024
AFTER AN ESPECIALLY RAINY WINTER, the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel is at its highest level in two decades, but the beaches and major Christian sites along its banks are empty.
Tourism usually peaks in April, when Christians flock to the holy sites during the Easter season and Israelis descend on the beaches and nearby national parks to enjoy the spring weather and see the wildflowers bloom.
This year, that coincided with a lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. The borders have been closed and Israelis have been largely confined to their homes since mid-March.
While authorities have recently begun loosening the restrictions, they imposed a full lockdown over Independence Day last week, and regulations still bar anyone from traveling more than 100 metres from home for any non-essential purpose.
FULL STORY The Sea of Galilee is full, but virus rules mean nobody is there to see it (Times of Israel)
Photo: A dog swims in the water as trees stand where dry land was in the Sea of Galilee, on April 25 (AP/Ariel Schalit)
