Jisr ed Damiye, Border bridge at Jordan River crossing, Jordan-Palestine
Jisr ed Damiye is a bridge crossing the Jordan River between Palestinian territories and Jordan. It spans the waterway in a strategically important location connecting the two regions.
The stone bridge was built in 1266 by the Mamluk sultan Baybars to secure the Salt–Nablus road, making it the oldest bridge in the Jordan Valley. A 93-metre structure still stood in the early 20th century, though the river had shifted east. In June 1946 a Palmach unit blew it up during the Night of the Bridges; the British then built a nearby replacement.
The bridge site corresponds to the biblical town of Adam, referenced in ancient texts and identified by scholars with the archaeological site of Tall Damiyah.
Access to the bridge requires permits from Israeli and Jordanian authorities, making a visit logistically complex. Visitors should check current regulations and required documentation in advance.
The stone remains of the Mamluk bridge still stand, though the Jordan shifted east and left the old span several dozen metres from the water. In 1935 planners proposed moving the old Allenby Bridge here after its replacement.
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