The Jordan bears little resemblance to the waterway of Jesus's time.

Environmentalists say pollution makes baptism at sacred spot in Jordan River unsafeToday, a dam cuts off most of the fresh water from the Sea of Galilee. In some areas, the river is no more than a trickle, making it hard to spot. Thousands of Christian pilgrims immerse themselves each year in the green-brown water. A water test at Qasr al-Yahud last October found the concentration of fecal coliform bacteria to be within what the Israeli Health Ministry deems safe for “dipping or splashing.” The result would not have met the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is 10 times as stringent.