Did you know that The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth? At -408 feet (almost ¼ mile!) below sea level, it’s considered one of the earth’s bottoms! The Dead Sea lies between Israel and Jordan. While at first glance, its shores seem lush and full with many palm trees, you might want to think twice about taking a dip.

The Dead Sea is so salty that bathers float effortlessly! It’s the lowest spot on Earth and the saltiest body of water in the world. It has a density of about 8 times greater than regular seawater and contains about 25% dissolved mineral solids, making diving or swimming nearly impossible without special precautions.

Did you also know that the Dead Sea provides some of the most unusual panoramic views?

From specific points, it looks as though you are perched above ground looking at the earth below. The height is misleading because what appears to be hills are down below sea level! Still, how does life survive with all this salt in the water?

Certain types of bacteria and archaea thrive in this environment and create their food through chemosynthesis. These life forms are so specialized that they can only survive in high salt concentrations.

The unusually high density of saltwater at The Dead Sea makes it easy for people to float with their eyes just above the waterline. People love to go to the Dead Sea on day trips from Jerusalem, amongst many other tourist hotspots. A large spa resort at the southern end of The Dead Sea is called Ein Gedi. It’s one of the most famous spas in Israel, and it takes advantage of all that saltwater!

The hot springs feed a stream that runs through pools set up for soaking in the mineral-rich water. All sorts of people, from children to the elderly, come here for a relaxing day filled with swimming and getting pampered at the spa.

The Dead Sea was a significant trade route between Jordan, Egypt, and Syria in ancient times. But today it’s mostly known as a popular tourist destination.