1. It’s the largest freshwater lake in Israel — 64 square miles, nearly the size of Washington, D.C.

2. The Sea is known by many names and is referred to by Israelis as the “Kinneret,” which is Hebrew for “violin,” considered to be the shape resembled by the lake.

3. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, one of his best-known discourses, is believed to have been delivered on a small hill on the lake’s north-western shore.

4. It is Israel’s largest source of fresh drinking water, supplying about one-third of the nation’s annual water requirement.

5. The Sea has become a pilgrimage site for many Christians and is believed to be where Jesus walked on water.

6. Its closest major city is Tiberias, which is along the lake’s west edge and is considered one of Israel’s holy cities.

7. The Talmud holy scriptures are believed to have been written in Tiberias.

8. The Sea is located in northeastern Israel, near the borders with Jordan and Syria.

9. Visitors often also stop by ancient natural hot springs that are nearby and are believed to have healing effects.

10. George W. Bush visited the lake as president in January 2008, saying it was an “amazing experience.”

11. The Sea is a significant source of commercial fishing and the surrounding area grows cotton, alfalfa, bananas and dates.

12. Twelve Hezbollah rockets hit the city of Tiberias on the shore of the lake during Israel’s 2006 war in Lebanon.