How would you like to swim in a body of water, safe in the knowledge that you could NEVER drown? Does such exist? you query. Fact is, such a place really does exist – and yes, on planet earth! Let’s go on an adventure with our eyes, minds, and imagination as we explore the Dead Sea.
About the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a hypersaline lake which the Jordan River empties into, and in ancient times was known by many names: Salt Sea, Eastern Sea, and Lake of Siddim as examples. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth – 417 metres below sea level, to be exact. It is bordered by Jordan to the east, Israel and the West Bank to the west, and has a depth of 304 metres, with a surface area (including its shores) of 429 metres.
Most of the names reference the fact that its salt and mineral content is over 30% (compared with the oceans having a salt content of 6%). This is because water only leaves by evaporation, and the quantity of water that evaporates is greater than that which flows into it, making it one of the saltiest body of water in the world, surpassed only by Lake Vanda in Antarctica (35%), Lake Assal in Djibouti (34.8%), Lagoon Garabogazköl in the Caspian Sea (up to 35%) and some ponds and lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, one of which is the Don Juan Pond (44%)
Why So Called?
It is called the Dead Sea because its salinity prevents the existence of many life forms like fish and aquatic plants, save for really small quantities of bacteria and fungi. That same salt, on the other hand, provides tremendous relief to the many ailing visitors who come here on a regular basis to benefit from its healing properties. All these and more make the Dead Sea so fascinating, so different, and so interesting.
