The Dead Sea Facts
The Dead Sea runs along the banks of Israel and Jordan and gets its water from the Jordan River. Visitors flock every year to the Dead Sea to reap the health benefits that are believed to come from the minerals in the water. The Dead Sea although called a sea is really a lake and does not empty into any body of water. The future of the Dead Sea is uncertain because of the reduction in water level every year.
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History
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The Dead Sea is more than 3 million years old. In the 20th century, some believe that scrolls found in 1947 and named the Dead Sea Scrolls were written in 70 CE by ancient Essenes. But there are differing views about the Jewish religious group believed to have lived in Judea before the destruction of the Second Temple. In ancient times, Egyptians used mud from the Dead Sea for mummifying the dead. According to legend, Queen Sheba believed that the Dead Sea has healing properties and Cleopatra used minerals from the Dead Sea in her makeup.
Geography
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The Dead Sea is at the lowest elevation in the world. It is 390 square miles long and extends 45 miles on the West Bank of Israel and Jordan's east coast. A large 1,300-foot deep northern basin and a shallow southern basin divide it. The Dead Sea region is hot and dry and it loses water from evaporation and does not empty its water into any body of water.
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Features
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Water in the Dead Sea is the second-most saltiest water on Earth. The salt taste in the sea is not that of table salt and harsh tasting. There are no living creatures in the Dead Sea because of the high mineral and salt content. Visitors to the Dead Sea will find, on entering the water, they can sit upright and float. The water has an oily feel to it and the salt lying on the bottom is sharp. Open cuts or getting water in the eyes will sting profusely.
Health Benefits
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Many people claim the salts and minerals in the water are successful in treating an array of health issues such as stress, muscle aches and acne. The minerals in the sea such as calcium, potassium and saline that are used to treat many humans are in the form of mud, soaps and facial scrubs.
Future of the Dead Sea
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The Dead Sea's future remains uncertain, since it has diminished in size at the rate of 1 meter per year. At this rate, it could dry up over the next 50 years. The water level has continually decreased since the 1960s and 33 percent of the surface has decreased over the last 50 years. Israel and Palestinian authorities have decreased the water flow from the Jordan River to accommodate increased demand for farming and industrial use.
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