What is the Dead Sea?
It’s definitely not the Caribbean.
The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank Palestine to the west. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.
The lake’s surface is 430.5 metres or 1,412 feet below sea level, making its shores the lowest land-based elevation on Earth.
How Was it Formed?
Millions of years ago, the Dead Sea was a saltwater lagoon that connected to the Mediterranean Sea. Over hundreds of thousands of years, tectonic plates shifted, raising the ground between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean and cutting off the water supply from the ocean. The Dead Sea, now a lake, became saltier over years as water evaporated. In 2011, the salinity was measured at around 34.2%, which is more than nine times saltier than the ocean.
Can you really float in the Dead Sea?
The water of the Dead Sea is saltier than any other body of water on earth. … Since our body weight is lighter (less dense) than the density of the water, our body is more buoyant in the Dead Sea, making it easy to float.
The Dead Sea is so salty that nothing can live in it.
Does the Dead Sea smell?
Contrary to what you might assume, the Dead Sea is not stinky. While the mud surrounding the Sea might smell a bit earthy, the water itself smells nice and clean
What’s the Draw?
Besides the supremely odd but completely wonderful feeling of bobbing around in the water, unable to sink, the Dead Sea is believed to have healing properties. Dead Sea salt has been used to treat psoriasis and eczema, and the salt is harvested and shipped all over the world for use in beauty products and home remedies. In addition, the nutrient-rich mud surrounding the dead sea creates an all-natural spa treatment. There are mud buckets set up at resorts along the shore where you can slather yourself in black, sulfur-smelling mud, lay out to dry in the hot sun, and go into the sea to clean yourself off. This process leaves skin feeling silky soft.
Great place to visit when you are around Jordan, Palestine or Israel.
Stay Safe😊
Bobby Wan
