Information for Kids About the Dead Sea

This body of water is so salty, almost ten times saltier than any ocean, that no fish or plant can live in it, which explains why it is called the Dead Sea

Location

Bordered by Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is located 1,300 feet (396 meters) below sea level, making it the lowest place on earth.

Floating

The high percentage of salt and other minerals in the Dead Sea make it less "watery" than other seas. Even if you can't swim, you'll never sink in the Dead Sea because the minerals make the water so dense you just bob on the surface like a cork.

Health Advantages

Many visitors to the Dead Sea rub themselves with the salt or cover their bodies with the black mud, which are said to be good for relieving skin ailments and arthritis.

The Weather

The average temperature at the Dead Sea is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). The valley enjoys 300 bright, sunny days a year.

Fun Fact

In 1947 a Bedouin shepherd discovered some of the oldest copies of books of the Bible in a cave above the Dead Sea. These 2,100-year-old manuscripts are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

References

• Is the Dead Sea really dead?
• Dead Sea Facts
• Dead Sea Scrolls