Dead Sea, Arabic Al-Baḥr Al-Mayyit (“Sea of Death”), Hebrew Yam HaMelaẖ (“Salt Sea”), also called Salt Sea, landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia. Its eastern shore belongs to Jordan, and the southern half of its western shore belongs to Israel. The Jordan River, from which the Dead Sea receives nearly all its water, flows from the north into the lake.The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation and is the lowest body of water on the surface of Earth about 400 metres below sea level. The waters of the Dead Sea are extremely saline, and, generally, the concentration of salt increases toward the lake’s bottom. The saline water has a high density (1.30 kg/ltr) that keeps bathers buoyant. The lake’s extreme salinity excludes all forms of life except bacteria. Fish carried in by the Jordan or by smaller streams when in flood die quickly. The name Dead Sea can be traced at least to the Hellenistic Age (323 to 30 BCE). The Dead Sea figures in biblical accounts dating to the time of Abraham (first of the Hebrew patriarchs) and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (the two cities along the lake, according to the Hebrew Bible, that were destroyed by fire from heaven because of their wickedness). The desolate wilderness beside the lake offered refuge to David (king of ancient Israel) and later to Herod I (the Great; king of Judaea).
Today tourist can enjoy the saltiness of the dead sea....
