Israel Day 5/10: Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is fed by the Jordan River but due to the fact that it is 1300 feet below sea level, it has no outlet. It was also known as the Salt Sea by the ancient Hebrews and is believed to be the location of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Seven million tons of water evaporate daily, leaving behind so many minerals (mainly sodium chloride) that no fish can live in it. The salinity is 10 times that of the ocean and twice that of the Great Salt Lake. It also means that getting the water in your eyes or nose is very painful.

The shore line looks like it is covered in snow from the salt left behind...

Before swimming we ate maklouba (or maqloobeh), or "upside down", for lunch. It is a giant bowl of chicken, vegetables and rice that is cooked and served much like a pineapple upside down cake. It's delicious!

For most of the trip we didn't know what to expect or what it would be like. But I did know that I would float without effort in the Dead Sea. Everyone floats in the Dead Sea.

Like most beaches, it was crowded with both swimmers and sunbathers on the shore. Unlike most beaches there were warning signs everywhere not in get any of the water in your eyes, nose, or mouth. There were also first aid stations to help those who might accidentally swallow some of the highly concentrated salt water.

One doesn't actually swim in the Dead Sea. Because no such effort is required. There is, however, quite a bit of effort to get your legs under you again once your floating...

The other thing I did not expect, was that the water would feel oily. It was much more like floating in vegetable oil than water. It almost felt thick. But it makes your skin feel so smooth!

The other lovely thing, is the rich black mud. You can buy many different beauty products made from it, but when you're there, you just get the same spa treatment for free... :)

It also keeps you from getting horribly sunburned while floating along the surface. :)