Background: The Dead Sea is the lowest land depression in the world - some 400m below sea level. It is about 65km long and 18km across at its widest point. It is fed by the Jordan River and a number of smaller rivers. Because of the heavy use of this incoming water for irrigation by both Israel and Jordan. The water level of the Dead Sea has been dropping to a point where it is now two distinct seas, joined by canals. The water is about 30% salt (ordinary sea water is 4%) and remarkably buoyant. No fish can survive in it, though some eleven species of bacteria have been found. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by divine judgment (Genesis 19.1-29), have traditionally been placed in the shallow southern part of the sea.
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Dead Sea Photos
Mountains on the way to the Dead Sea.
Mountains on the way to the Dead Sea.
Floating in/on the Dead Sea.
Tour group floating in/on the Dead Sea.
Beach scene at the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea reflections.
Dead Sea reflections.