What you should know about the Dead Sea

Over 3 million years ago, two of the earth's tectonic plates pulled apart to create the Dead Sea: the African plate on one side, the Arabian plate on the other. The resulting rift or graben (the German for ditch) used to connect to what is now known as the Mediterranean Sea.

Over time, that connection sealed up, leaving the Dead Sea as an inland salt lake. Today, the Jordan River flows into the lake at the northern end.

Facts about the Dead Sea

•Around 34% of the Dead Sea is salt. And it does not taste good.

•The salty water will STING any open cúts you have. Do not shave before you go in!

•While you sink in other waters, you can't drown or sínk in the Dead Sea.

•It's not actually the saltiest place on earth. Nor even in the top three.

On the Dead Sea, you literally float like a raft. You can't sink, and it's hard to even stand on your feet.

Reason :The water of the Dead Sea is salty. Dead Sea has about 34% concentration of salt. Therefore, the water is denser than ocean or fresh water.

Since the human body weight is lighter (less dense) than the density of the water, our body is more buoyant in the Dead Sea, making it easy to float.

The high concentration of salt is also the reason why it's dangerous to swim in the Dead Sea or try to dive in face down.

The only thing you can do on the Dead Sea is float. That's why people who go to the Dead Sea go with a book or Newspaper for reading as they float.

Who knows quite how these things get started but along the banks of the Dead Sea, you'll find beauty resorts and spa treatments aplenty. Both the Dead Sea salts and the less poetically named mud carry anti-inflammatory health properties, apparently.

There's no denying that the mud feels silky smooth, though, like nature's own glossy facial. The ideal "treatment" is to bathe in the saltwater of the Dead Sea, coat yourself in thick mud and then rinse off as the sun sets.

It may or may not work but it definitely is fun!

Would you like to visit the Dead Sea with your Partner?

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