Lowest aerial cable-car route

Excluding subterranean cable cars, the Jericho cable car in Palestine is the only one of its kind to run below sea level for the entirety of its 1,328-m (4,359-ft) route. It carries visitors from Elisha’s Spring in the city of Jericho, with an elevation of 219.86 m (721 ft 3 in), to a station on Mount Quarantana that is itself still 50.29 m (164 ft 11 in) below sea level. The 12-cabin cable car, which completes the journey in around five minutes, was constructed by the Austro-Swiss firm Girak-Garaventa and opened to the public in 1999. Each of the cabins can accommodate eight passengers. The $10-million Jericho cable car is operated by the Téléphérique and Sultan Tourist Center.

Mount Quarantana is considered to be the Mount of Temptation of biblical fame, where Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and nights and was tested by the Devil (Book of Matthew 4:8). The mountain is now home to a Greek Orthodox monastery known as the “Monastery of the Temptation” (“Deir al-Qarantal” in Arabic).

Jericho is thought to be the oldest continually inhabited city, with roots back to circa 9000 BCE.