3/27/2011 - Banias

We left Tel Dan and drove a short distance to Banias one of the three springs that join together to form the Jordan River.  The three springs are the Senir, the Dan and the Banias.  The Dan and the Banias both are fast moving springs, the Senir is a much calmer spring.  All three were running high.  As we drove through the gates to Banias, we saw this sign telling us to watch for lizards crossing the road.  We didn't see any in the park, but figure they were very small lizards.

The view across the valley from Banias.

The power of the water was awesome.  We walked the loop trail going down many stone steps to the suspended trail all along the stream.  We saw beautiful flowers along the way, including cyclamen, a form of hyacinth and the Kalanit (anemone).

They call this the Plane Tree - it's what we call a Maple.

Banias was named for Pan (the part man, part goat), the god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music.  Arab people have difficulty saying "p" and instead it sounds like a "b."  Thus, Banias.