The lake is about 21 kilometres long and 13 kilometres wide. It sits in a deep dip in the land - one of the lowest freshwater lakes in the world. The river Jordan flows into it from the north and out of it to the south, eventually reaching the Dead Sea.
For thousands of years the Sea of Galilee has been Israel's most important source of drinking water. A long pipe called the National Water Carrier moves water from the lake to homes and farms across the country. Without it, the desert south would be much harder to live in.
The lake is full of fish. The most famous is the 'St Peter's fish' - a kind of tilapia that has lived here for centuries. Fishermen go out at sunrise in small boats, as they have done for a very long time, and bring back their catch for restaurants and markets.
The hills around the Galilee are green and full of wild flowers in spring. In summer the water is warm and full of swimmers and kayakers. It is one of the most popular places in Israel for a family weekend - especially when the rest of the country is too hot.