EL-ARA'BAII is the name of the great depression of country which extends from the Dead sea to the gulf of Akahah. From the foot of Mt. Hermon to the Elanitic gulf of the Red sea there is a deep valley that is classed by geographers among the most remarkable depressions on the globe. It is divided by a line of chalk cliffs, which cross it about 6 m. s. of the Dead sea. North of these the valley, at the present day, is named El-Ghor (q.v.); s. of them the old Hebrew name E1-Arabah is retained. The whole length of this part is about 100 miles. Its greatest width, 60m. n. of the gulf of Akabah, is from 10 to 12 m.•, its least at the gulf, not more than 3 or 4 miles. On the western, side are the horizontal lines of the Tilt, white and desolate, mounting up 1500 or 1800 ft. from the valley by huge steps, with level barren tracts on their tops, and crowned by the plateau of " the wilderness of the wanderings." This range has two principal passes; one, very steep and difficult, is close to the gulf, and is known simply as "the pass." Through it the Mecca pilgrims climb. The other, on the road from Petra to Hebron and leading up from the plateau to a level 1000 ft. higher, is probably the point at which the Israelites, when attempting against the divine command to "go up" into the promised land, were repulsed by the Amalekites coming down from the hill. On
the eastern side are the mountains of Edom, which rise to a height of more than 2,000 ft., and are crowned by Mt. TIor, 5,000 ft. high. These mountains are verdant, and in many parts cultivated, yielding good crops. Ruined towns and villages abound, attesting the former prosperity of the country. The numerous wades, which come down from the mountains, generally contain streams sufficient to keep vegetation. alive. One of these begins near the Akabah, leading by the back of the range Pbtra, and thence to the Dead sea. Along it there are traces of a Roman road. Another gives the most direct access from El-A. to Petra. After the discovery that a prolonged depression exists from Mt. Hermon to the Red sea many persons naturally assumed that the Jordan formerly flowed through its whole extent. But this theory is sufficiently disproved by the levels, imperfect as they are, which have lately been taken of the Jordan and the Dead sea. These have been found to be below the level of the gulf of Akabah and the drainage of the northern portion of El-A. is into the Dead sea, and that of the southern portion into the gulf.