Dead Sea

Dead Sea

At Earth's lowest point there is a miracle of nature with a fascinating ecosystem, stunning desert vistas and mineral gems that have attracted visitors for millennia: The Dead Sea. It is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, located in the Judean desert of southern Israel, bounded by Jordan to the East. Formed approximately four million years ago, it is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. The dry desert climate is characterized by sunny skies throughout the year, relatively high temperatures, and low rainfall. The Dead Sea, which is thought to be the result of volcanic processes that led to the continual subsidence of land, is located at the lowest point on earth. The landscape is unlike any other in the world due to the constant dramatic changes. In addition, the exceptional mineral content of the air, land and water in the area is known worldwide for its healing powers, as evidenced by the fact that it has been a health resort for centuries. The Jordan River was the sole significant water source feeding the Dead Sea until the late 1960s, though there are minor perennial springs below and along the lake, creating pools and quicksand pits at its edges. Today, sulfur springs and sewage are the only sources of water, along with rare drizzles and flash floods, after the water was diverted from the Sea of Galilee. The geography of the Dead Sea has changed somewhat over the years, and today it is 50 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide at its broadest point. It is approximately 380 meters deep and stores some 40 billion gallons of water. The Dead Sea is a harsh environment where plants and animals cannot thrive due to the extreme salinity of the water, hence its name.