Category: Let's talk
Dead Sea
Dead Sea, salt lake, c.390 sq mi (1,010 sq km), extending c.45 mi (70 km) in the Jordan trough of the Great Rift Valley between the Ghor on the north and
Wadi Arabah on the south, on the border between Israel and the West Bank (W) and Jordan (E). The shore of the Dead Sea, historically about 1,295 ft (395
m) below sea level but now some 50 ft (15 m) lower, is the lowest dry point on earth.
Situated between steep, rocky cliffs, 2,500 to 4,000 ft (762?1,219 m) high, the sea is divided by the Al Lisan peninsula into two basins?a larger northern
basin c.1,300 ft (400 m) deep, and a smaller, shallow southern basin, now separated from the northern basin and divided into salt ponds. The lake is fed
by the Jordan River and a number of small streams; it has no outlet. Because it is located in a very hot and dry region, the Dead Sea loses much water
through evaporation; its level fluctuates during the year. Inflow has been greatly reduced by the increased use of the waters of the Jordan for irrigation,
and water levels are falling.
One of the saltiest water bodies in the world, the sea supports no life. It yields large amounts of mineral salts; potash and bromine are commercially extracted.
The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were on the southwestern shore; present-day Sodom is the site of mineral-salt extraction works. The Dead Sea coast
in Israel is the site of beaches, spas, and tourist hotels. Biblical names for the Dead Sea include Salt Sea, East Sea, and Sea of the Plain.
Interesting, but I'm not sure why you keep posting these geography facts.
Greetings to Sam,
educational yes, and God knows I like learning but um...
It's educational, interesting, and has a personal touch for me. It is one of my parents' favorite vacation spots. The place is very relaxing and mind clearing. You just have to be careful not to let the water touch your eyes. It burns like hell. :) In the dead sea you can also find a special kind of mud that's full of minerals that are good for your body. People rub this mud all over their bodies and stay with it for some time. When you wash it off you get an incredible feeling! So if anybody's looking for a relaxing healthy vacation spot, the dead sea is the place to go. I know many of you are concerned because of the security problems in Israel. Well the dead sea is one of the most peaceful areas. It borders with Jordan which is probably our best friend in the riegeon.
I liked the last post, it gave the dead sea a personal touch. The first one was boreing in my opinion.
Bob