Sea of Galilee

Sometimes called the Lake of Gennesaret, the Sea of Tiberias, and the Sea of Chinnereth. It is a freshwater lake about thirteen miles long and eight miles wide in northern Israel near where Jesus grew up. There were nine large, thriving cities around the lake. Only Tiberias still exists, plus one tiny village, Magdala.

The Sea of Galilee had a rich fishing industry. Four of Jesus’s disciples fished for a living in the Sea of Galilee. Many of Jesus’s sermons and miracles took place along the shore. The sea was known for its sudden and violent storms. Jesus rescued His disciples in two such storms. Jesus sometimes taught large crowds from a boat anchored near the shore.