The Dead Sea, a.k.a. the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west.
The surface and shores of the Dead Sea are 1,388 ft. (423 meters) below sea level, making it the lowest elevation on Earth.
It is 1,237 ft. (377 meters) deep, making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.
It isn’t the saltiest body of water in the world, but at 33.7% salinity, it is at least the third saltiest in the world. Antarctica and Djibouti may have a bodies of water that beat it.
It’s about 8.6x saltier than the ocean, making it impossible for sea life to exist, So, there are no marine animals inhabiting it. Hence, it’s name: the DEAD sea.
It’s 42 miles (62 kilometers) long and 11 miles (18 kilometers) wide at its widest point.
Because of its unusually high salt concentration, you can easily float in it. Be sure not to get the water in your eyes (burns!) and mouth (taste stays for awhile!)
The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research and treatment for several reasons. The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects. (twistedsifter.com)
Biblically, the Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the Great). (wiki)
Photo of me floating in the Dead Sea: Gemma Whittel
4AUG13. The Dead Sea, Jordan.