I got to see (and touch) the Jordan River today. I realize that it is summer and everything is drying up, but it certainly wasn't a huge river. The Grand River is much, much bigger than the Jordan River.
One reason for that (and for why the Dead Sea is shrinking by about a meter each year) is that the Israelis are using water from the Jordan for their irrigation and water needs and the Jordanians likewise are using water from the Yarmuk River (the other major feeder from the north) for their irrigation and water needs. What is left for the Jordan south of the Sea of Galilee is a lot less water and a lot dirtier water.
Interesting fact...the head of the Jordan River is actually in Syria. Back in 1967 Syria tried to divert the whole Jordan River away from Israel and dry them up. That is just one of the events that led to the dramatic 6-Day War in 1967. And you thought you had difficult neighbors...
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