Baptism Site Editorial Photo

Al-Maghtas (Arabic: المغطس‎), meaning baptism or immersion in Arabic, is a historic place and World Heritage site in Jordan on the east bank of the Jordan River. The site is considered by Christians to be the place of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and has been venerated as such since at least the Byzantine period. Al-Maghtas is also traditionally identified as the site of the Israelites' crossing of the Jordan as described in the Book of Joshua, and of prophet Elijah's ascension to heaven. The site is close to the ancient road between Jerusalem and Transjordan, via Jericho, across a Jordan River ford and connecting to other biblical sites such as Madaba, Mount Nebo and the King's Highway.