Welcome to the Dead Sea

Imagine a lake so salty that you float effortlessly on its surface without even trying. A place so low that it sits 430 meters (1,412 feet) below sea level — the lowest point on Earth's land surface.

The Dead Sea lies in the Jordan Rift Valley between Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank. Its water is nearly 10 times saltier than ordinary ocean water, creating conditions so extreme that almost nothing can survive in it — which is how it earned its name.

But the Dead Sea holds more than salt. For thousands of years, people have traveled here for the mineral-rich mud believed to heal skin and soothe the body. Cleopatra herself reportedly built cosmetic factories on its shores. Today, the Dead Sea faces a dramatic crisis: it is shrinking by about 1 meter per year. Let's explore this extraordinary and endangered wonder.