The Jordan River (sometimes River Jordan) ( Nehar haYarden; Nahr al-Urdun) is a -long river in West Asia flowing to the Dead Sea. Israel and Palestine border the river to the west, while Jordan lies to its east. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan takes its name from this river. The river has significance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam as the site where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land and where Jesus of Nazareth was baptised by John the Baptist.