where does the jordan river begin?
Anti-Lebanon mountains
entailment
 The Zarqa River ( Arabic : نهر الزرقاء , Nahr az @-@ Zarqāʾ , lit . " the Blue River " ) is the second largest tributary of the lower Jordan River , after the Yarmouk River . It is the third largest river in the region by annual discharge , and its watershed encompasses the most densely populated areas east of the Jordan River . It rises in springs near Amman , and flows through a deep and broad valley ( which is identified with the biblical Jabbok River ) into the Jordan , at an elevation 1 @,@ 090 metres ( 3 @,@ 580 ft ) lower . The river is heavily polluted and its restoration is one of the top priorities for the Jordanian Ministry of the Environment . 

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 The Zarqa River is commonly identified with the biblical Jabbok River ( Hebrew : נָּחַל יַבֹּק , Nahal Yabok ) . 

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 The river 's watershed encompasses the most densely populated areas east of the Jordan River , and it flows through an industrialized area that is home to more than 52 % of Jordan 's industrial plants , including the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company . During the summer months , treated domestic and industrial waste @-@ water compose nearly all of the flow , and substantially degrade the water quality . Coupled with over @-@ extraction of water from the underground aquifer and the naturally low base flow of the Zarqa , this has created a major problem , described as one of Jordan 's " environmental black spots " . and has made rehabilitation of the Zarqa a top priority for the Jordanian Ministry of the Environment . The restoration project is estimated to cost $ 30 million . 

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 The Zarqa River is identified with the biblical river Jabbok ( Hebrew : יבוק ) . The Biblical Jacob crossed the Jabbok on his way back to Canaan , after leaving Harran . It leads west into the Sukkot Valley , from where one crosses over the Jordan and can easily reach Shechem , as Jacob eventually did . The biblical cities of Zaretan and Adam are also at the mouth of the valley . 

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 The modern Arabic name , Nahr az @-@ Zarqa ' ( نهر الزرقاء ) means " the blue river " , where nahr means river and zarqa ' ( زرقاء ) means blue . 
