The Dead Sea

Israel Top Destinations

The Dead Sea is ironically a salt lake that lies in the Great Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River. Its surface and shores are 1,412 ft below sea level. Which is Earth’s lowest elevation on land. It is 997 ft deep in other words, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. With a salinity of 34.2% it’s officailly one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. In fact, it’s ten times as salty as the ocean – and has a density of 1.24 kg/liter, which makes swimming similar to floating. All this salt makes it real hard for flora and fauna to survive so only microorganisms can be live there.


The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean Basin for thousands of years. For more info and things to do, click here!

The mysterious sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean Basin for thousands of years. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from asphalt for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers. The Dead Sea is dropping at a speedy rate; its surface area today is 234 sq mi, which has been almost double in the early 20th century.

The Geography of the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a geographic feature formed by the Dead Sea Transform. This left lateral-moving transform fault lies along the tectonic plate boundary between the African Plate and the Arabian Plate. It runs between Turkey and the northern end of the Red Sea Rift offshore of the southern tip of Sinai. It is here that the Upper Jordan River/Sea of Galilee/Lower Jordan River water system comes to an end.


Don’t Forget to Rub Some Dead Sea Mud!

The Jordan River is the only major water source flowing into the lake, although there are small perennial springs under and around the Dead Sea, forming pools and quicksand pits along the edges. There are no outlet streams. The Arnon River, Arnon, is one of the larger water sources of the Dead Sea other than the Jordan.


Don’t Forget to Float and Just Relax!

Other more substantial sources are Wadi Dragot, and Nahal Arugot that ends at Ein Gedi. Wadi Zered in Jordan is another wadi flowing into the Dead Sea. Rainfall is scarcely 100 mm (4 in) per year in the northern part of the Sea and barely 50 mm (2 in) in the southern part. The Dead Sea zone is getting so little rainfall due to the rainshadow effect of the Judaean Mountains. The highlands east of the Dead Sea receive more rainfall than the Sea itself. To the west of the Sea, the Judaean mountains rise less steeply and are much lower than the mountains to the east. Mount Sodom which is a tall mountain made from salt can be seen along the lake, towering to 210 m (700 ft).



Things To Do In The Area

There are lots of cool things to do in the Area! First, you have Masada National Park, which is officially a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Also, you have the majestic Oasis of Ein Gedi which is worth a visit. And of course don’t miss the opportunity of floating in the Dead Sea, right?! I mean this is a must especially if it’s your first time in the Holy Land.


The Chalcolithic Temple at Ein Gedi Overlooking the Sea

apt-stamp-white@2x
arik-about

Hi! My name is Arik Haglili, an Israeli native who decided to dedicate his life to share my knowledge about the Holy Land to those that are interested to know more about this amazing piece of land. My career as a private tour guide started at the International School For the Studying of the Holocaust and the rest is history.

Did you know the Hoopoe is Israel's national bird?! For more cool info about Israel, join our ever growing community and get exclusive travel tips, and giveaways!

Touring Where Jesus Was Tested by Satan

RELATED POSTS

Megiddo National Park

Megiddo National Park is one of three Biblical Tels in Israel that was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO!

The Mansion of Bahjí

The Mansion of Bahjí is a historical site and pilgrimage destination for Baháʼís around the world. Located in the city of Acre.

Photos In Beit Guvrin National Park

Where can you take the best photos In Beit Guvrin National Park? So Beit Guvrin National Park is a wonderful location for photos.

Herod’s Royal Palaces in Jericho

Just outside of Jerusalem rests Herod’s Royal Palaces. The palaces are a great destination to go on a private tour! So let's go touring!

Old Gesher Yard

The old Gesher is a site where the founders of the Kibbutz first settled. Now it serves as a heritage museum for the history of ...

Lions’ Gate

The Lions' Gate, also known as St. Stephen's Gate, is one of the eight gates of the Old City of Jerusalem, located on the city's ...

Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem

Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem are dating back to the early 16th century, Jerusalem’s Old City walls are one of the city’s features!

Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art

The Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-see destination for art enthusiasts visiting Israel. The museum is a vibrant cultural hub!

Castel National Park

Castel National Park in Israel is a beautiful and historic site located in the Judean Hills, near Jerusalem telling the story of the 1948 war

Hasmonean Royal Winter Palaces

The Hasmonean royal winter palaces are a complex of Hasmonean and Herodian buildings from the Second Temple period, discovered in Jericho

Need help?