This body of water is unlike any other lake or sea you’ve ever seen.
The Dead Sea is a salt lake located in the heart of the Middle East, on the border of Jordan and Israel, and it is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, with a salinity of over 30%.
That’s around 10 times saltier than the average seawater, earning it the nickname “The Saltiest Sea.”
The high salinity of the Dead Sea makes it impossible to drown, as the water is so dense that it supports the human body in such a way that one can simply lie on their back and relax.
The Dead Sea became a popular tourist destination, as people from all over the world come to see this natural wonder.
What makes it so salty?
The Dead Sea gets its high salt concentration from the fact that it’s a closed lake with no outlets. Water flows into the Dead Sea from various freshwater sources, but it doesn’t flow out. As a result, the water evaporates, leaving behind the dissolved salts and minerals, making the water extremely salty.
The result of the high salinity in the Dead Sea is a surprise for anyone who decides to take a dip. You find that you can effortlessly float on the surface of the water without any effort and without having to worry about sinking. This high salt concentration increases the water’s density to make floating on this body of water possible.
This is one of the main reasons why tourists visit the Dead Sea: they get to float on the surface, even while reading a book or newspaper.
Beauty benefits
The Dead Sea is not just a tourist attraction; it’s known for its healing properties. The minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and salts found in its waters have been used for centuries to treat various skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema. The minerals are believed to rejuvenate the skin and it’s like a form of skincare.
The Dead Sea is also famous for its mineral-rich mud. People apply this mud to their bodies, let it dry and then rinse it off.
The minerals in the mud can help improve the skin and are believed to have therapeutic effects on joint and muscle pain.
Fun fact
The Dead Sea isn’t just famous for its saltiness and the possibility of floating without sinking, it’s also the lowest point on Earth. The Dead Sea is located 423 meters below sea level. This makes it the lowest point on Earth, both on land and in the ocean.
