Dead Sea

shared with Jordan
and the West Bank

Why the
Dead Sea
is special

The Dead Sea surface lies about 425 meters (1,400 feet) below sea level, making it the world's deepest dry-land location.

Dead Sea
tips and insights

How the Dead Sea
came to be

This body of water has no outflowing river, so any water that flows into sea from rivers and streams is trapped. That water stays their until it evaporates (which occurs at a relatively fast pace because the air is quite hot and dry). The minerals are left behind, creating an amazingly high minerals-to-water ratio.

Attractions

Besides its world-record low altitude, the Dead Sea offers visitors these draws:

Extreme floating opportunity

Tourists love posing for a picture showing them reading a newspaper while floating (see photo). It's not a trick. The water is that buoyant.

Masada

This ancient historic fortress is perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is a Hillman Wonder.

Spas

They offer mineral-bath, black-mud, among other curative treatments that have been practiced here for 2,000 years.

Landscape

It has an other-world look. And its isolation creates a pristine quietness seldom heard by urban dwellers.

Kibbutz

Visit one to see its communal lifestyle and meet its members.

Dead Sea Scrolls

These 2,000-year-old Biblical writings were discovered in the mid-20th century by an inquisitive Bedouin shepherd in caves above the ancient Qumran ruins along the Dead Sea.

Be aware

Because of its high concentration of dissolved minerals, Dead Sea water can stain your bathing suit and other clothing that comes in contact with it. Thoroughly rinse them out in the shower promptly after you leave the water. This mineral-rich water can also sting your eyes and any open cut.

Day trip

The Dead Sea is about 40 minutes by road from Jerusalem.

For more pointers...

Read my Dead Sea web page in my Wonders of Jordan guide. It features a fast-fact list.

Dead Sea - Jordan

Location in Israel