Wadi Qelt

Wadi Qelt (Arabic: وادي القلط‎‎‎; also: Wadi al-Qult, Wadi el-Qult, Wadi Kelt, Wadi Qilt or Wadi Qult), also Nahal Prat (Hebrew: נחל פרת‎‎), is a valley or stream (Arabic: وادي‎‎‎ wādī, "wadi"; Hebrew: נחל‎‎‎, "nahal") in the West Bank, originating near Jerusalem and terminating near Jericho, near the Dead Sea, where it runs into the Jordan River.

Wadi Qelt is home to a unique variety of flora and fauna. St. George's Monastery and the Wadi Qelt Synagogue are located in the Wadi, which has been identified with the biblical Perath mentioned in Jeremiah 13:5.

Wadi Qelt contains monasteries and old Christian locations. Several aqueducts have been found along the stream, the oldest dating to the Hasmonean period (2nd century BC). The aqueducts transported water from three main springs in the valley to Jericho. The Wadi Qelt Synagogue, built as part of a Hasmonean royal winter palace, is believed to be one of the oldest synagogues in the world. The site was home to the winter palaces of Hasmonean kings and Herod the Great.

Qubur Bani Isra'in are huge stone structures which rise from a rocky plateau overlooking Wadi Qelt.

The Monastery of Saint George was founded by John of Thebes around 480 AD, and it became an important spiritual centre in the sixth century under Saint George of Choziba. Hermits living in caves in nearby cliffs would meet in the monastery for a weekly mass and communal meal.

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