Why Is the Dead Sea So Dense?
The Dead Sea has the highest concentration of mineral salts on earth, making it the densest body of water on our planet. Local rivers carry minerals into the Dead Sea but because it is landlocked, these deposits cannot be washed away. Evaporation nullifies the effects of fresh water inflows, so the sea continues to grower saltier.
Other People Are Reading
-
Definition of Density
-
In bodies of water, density means the ratio of mineral salts to water. When applied to bodies of water, the term "density" means the ratio of of mineral salts to water. Portions of the Dead Sea contain as much at 35 percent mineral salts--the highest on earth.
Density and Depth
-
Density varies at different depths in the Dead Sea. The upper layers are less dense because they are constantly receiving fresh water from rivers in the surrounding region, including the Jordan River.
-
Mineral Density
-
The Jordan is one of the rivers that carries mineral salts into the Dead Sea. Surrounding rivers carry mineral salts into the Dead Sea, but this sea is landlocked, which means these deposits cannot be washed away. Even though fresh water is constantly flowing into the Dead Sea, the intense heat in the region causes the water to evaporate quickly, so it is not diluted by the inflow.
Impact
-
Fish that make their way into the Dead sea from surrounding rivers are killed almost instantly. The high concentration of mineral salts makes the Dead Sea lethal to all forms of life except bacteria, one form of algae and humans. Because of the density, humans float very easily in the water, almost as if resting on an air mattress.
Still Sinking
-
The Dead Sea was created by a rift between two crustal plates. The Dead Sea was formed by a rift between two crustal plates that are continuing to pull apart. The surface is some 1,300 feet below sea level and the sea continues to sink by about 13 inches per year.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit coral dead sea image by A74.FR Ben Fontaine from Fotolia.com smelling salts image by sasha from Fotolia.com man looking at people baptizing in jordan river/is image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com dead fish image by Vasco Oliveira from Fotolia.com earth cracks image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com
