Why Is the Dead Sea Called the Dead Sea?
Located in the Middle East in Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is essentially a salt lake whose surface is more than 1,300 feet below sea level and whose deepest point is more than 2,300 feet below sea level, according to Extreme Science's website. Also known by other names--including the Sea of Sodom, Sea of Lot, Sea of Asphalt and Sea of Zoar--the Dead Sea is saltier than the oceans.
Other People Are Reading
-
Name
-
The Dead Sea's name originated because early visitors believed that life did not exist in or around the area because of how salty the water was, according to the Magic Dead Sea website. Due to the high level of salinity, plant life and fish are not able to live in the waters. However, some microbes are able to exist in the extremely salty sea.
Formation
-
The Dead Sea was formed when the nearby Mediterranean Sea overflowed and created a landlocked body of water, with only the Jordan River as a main source of water. Underneath the Dead Sea, two plates in the Earth's crust are continuously moving away from each other. The drifting causes the crust to stretch and become thin in this place. According to the Extreme Science website, the Dead Sea sinks as much as 13 inches annually.
-
Features
-
The Dead Sea is constantly being supplied with water from smaller nearby drainages, but the Dead Sea itself has nowhere to drain. The only way water can escape the sea is through evaporation. As water evaporates, dissolved mineral salts are left behind and confined within the Dead Sea. Water temperatures in the Dead Sea can exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and 68 degrees in winter.
Composition
-
According to Extreme Science's website, the Dead Sea is composed of approximately 35 percent dissolved salts. The deeper the water in the Dead Sea, the higher the concentration of salt as the salt amasses on the sea bed. The Dead Sea is more than eight times saltier than any ocean. Minerals that exist in the salts include magnesium, calcium, zinc, sulfur and potassium.
Benefits
-
Visitors from around the world travel to the Dead Sea to soak up the salt and other minerals found in the water. Salts and minerals from the Dead Sea are said to help promote proper blood circulation, wash away dead skin cells and regenerate living skin cells, according to the Health Guidance website. Additionally, the salt and minerals can relieve tense muscles and prevent infections. Many health and beauty products, such as scrubs and soaps found in spas, contain salt and minerals from the Dead Sea.
-
References
- Photo Credit dead sea image by Lucy Cherniak from Fotolia.com
