NATURAL WONDER
JUNE 12, 2023
The Wonder And Beauty Of The Dead Sea
This is the wonder and beauty of The Dead Sea that attracts many tourists and scientists all around the world for decades.
The Dead Sea which is located in the border area between Israel, Palestine and Jordan is located on land. So, actually the Dead Sea is not a sea, but a lake. The most interesting phenomenon here is, anyone who swims in this place will not drown.
The appearance of the Dead Sea is very beautiful and mysterious. The water looks very bright blue. In addition, visitors can also see salt crystals that stick out and golden hills around the site.
This is one of the saltiest waters in the world. Formerly this place was called the salty sea. However, as time went on, because this place had extreme salinity, no living things could survive.
Based on geological observations, the Dead Sea was formed when small cracks appeared in the Jordan River valley or Jordan Riff Valley. As a result of the cracks, sea water can enter and collect at that location.
This lake consist of a northern basin with the deepest point at 725m below sea level and a southern basin which is shallower and experiences drought.
The lake was formed due to the activity of shifting tectonic plates which also formed the Great Rift Valley several million years ago. Originally this lake was part of a larger lake that connected to the Sea of Galilee.
The absence of animals and plants in the Dead Sea is due to the high salt content which reaches ten times that of the oceans found here. So that the water is not suitable to support the life of living things.
With a salt content of more than 340 g/kg of water and mixed with other minerals, the water in the Dead Sea is denser than other water including the human body in general. Therefore, when swimming in the Dead Sea, the body will remain afloat and cannot really ‘dive’ or ‘swim’.
The salt content is around 32 percent when compared to an average salt content of 3 percent in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because the very hot temperatures in the Dead Sea make the evaporation process bigger, resulting in a very high level of saltiness of sea water.
The mineral content of Dead Sea water is the highest in the world, some of which are: magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium chloride and various salts and black mud.
Since ancient times, materials found in the Dead Sea have been known to have a beautifying effect on the skin. By applying this mud to the body, the minerals contained in it have been shown to improve skin, promote blood circulation and can promote good health. This has long been known by King Solomon, Cleopatra and Herod the Great so they went to the Dead Sea to get this effect.
While it’s always sunny, the Dead Sea is actually one of the safer places to be exposed to sunlight, because UVB rays are weaker in this area. The air around the Dead Sea is clean, so it is very good for asthma sufferers.
Another good thing from the minerals of the lake water is, it can reduce stress levels and improve blood circulation. When the Dead Sea minerals in the form of salt are dissolved in warm water with a high concentration, blood circulation will increase and encourage the detoxification process in your body.
But Dead Sea water is still dangerous for humans if not careful. For this reason, when visiting the Dead Sea, make sure you stay in a supine position with your face facing the sky. Do not let you be in a prone position with your face facing the water because it is very dangerous.
Since 1979 the Dead Sea has continuously experienced a decrease in water discharge until the water level continues to decrease. The average water level is decreasing by about 3 feet (1m) per year. The length of the Dead Sea has also decreased drastically. In 1950 it was 50 miles long. As of 2005 it is 30 miles long.
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