Many religious and historic stories are believed to have occurred in present day Jordan and one of these places is Machaerus, also known as "Mukawir." Machaerus is an archeological site and a fortified palace that is located on the top of a hill overlooking Jordan’s Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The historic area of Machaerus is believed to be the place where the story of John the Baptist’s imprisonment and execution occurred. Machaerus also became one of Jordan’s main pilgrimage sites that were designated by the Vatican following Pope John Paul II visit to the kingdom in the year 2000.