The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea has always been one of Israel’s most popular destinations maybe because of its name and its extremely-high salinity recorded. The salinity is 35 %, making it one of the saltiest waters on the planet. Its salt-heavy waters allow humans to float effortlessly on the surface — a phenomenon that makes the Dead Sea a popular resort destination and became one of the best diving spots in Israel, yet notoriously challenging for divers attempting to swim down into the water. The Dead Sea is also the lowest point on Earth with the shore levels at 423 metres below sea level. Concurrently, The Dead Sea is a place renowned for its vistas, healing powers, and natural beauty. It borders Jordan, the Palestinian Authority area, and Israel.

The Dead Sea is a little more than 30 miles long and 9 miles wide. The surface is more than 1,400 feet below sea level, and road signs along the way remind you just how far below sea level you are. Landlocked and rain shadowed, the sea has only one source of water: the Jordan River. The water level has dropped 130 feet in the past 80 years. There are several reasons for that, one of which is water from the Jordan River has been diverted for other uses. It’s not quite the saltiest sea in the world, but at 1,200 feet deep it is by far the largest hypersaline body of water on Earth. Potassium, calcium and sodium salts precipitate out of the saturated water to create magnificent sand-colored crystal formations on the lake floor.