A short introduction

The Dead Sea

A lake so salty you float, set at the lowest place on land.

The Dead Sea viewed from Jordan
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Opening question
Is the Dead Sea actually a sea?
No. It is a landlocked salt lake. It is called a sea because of its size and its extremely salty water.
Location

Where it is

The Dead Sea sits in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west.

Jerusalem is west of the lake. The Jordan River flows in from the north.

OpenStreetMap map of the Dead Sea region
Dead Sea region
Dead Sea
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Why it is unusual

Three defining facts

1
It is extremely salty.Roughly 9 to 10 times saltier than ocean water.
2
You float easily.The salty water is dense, so your body is more buoyant.
3
It is far below sea level.The shoreline is more than 1,400 feet below sea level.
A person floating in the Dead Sea
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
A changing landscape

It is shrinking

For decades, the water level has been falling as less water reaches the lake and desert heat drives evaporation.

9–10×saltier than the ocean
1,400+ ftbelow sea level
0fish living in it
Sinkholes near the Dead Sea
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Closing question

What famous ancient writings were found nearby?

The Dead Sea Scrolls. They were discovered in caves near Qumran and include some of the oldest known biblical manuscripts.
1 / 6
The Dead Sea