The most beautiful places in the Dead Sea. Dead Sea, Israel (28 photos) The beauty of nature

Unique Dead Sea is the deepest of all salt lakes in the world. It received an interesting name due to its very high degree of salinity: the water here is 8.6 times saltier than in the ocean, plants and fish do not survive in such a sea, and even swimming in its waters must be done with caution - you can “get burned”!

The amazing Dead Sea is located between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The salt level here reaches 330.7 grams per 1 liter of water, which is considered an indicator of very high concentration. The surface of the sea, which is actually a lake, is 425 meters below sea level, making it the lowest point on the planet. The length of the Dead Sea reaches 67 kilometers, its maximum width is 18 kilometers, and its maximum depth is 378 meters.

However, scientists note that each year the water level due to the receding sea drops by one meter, leaving behind a piece of land hyper-saturated with salt. At the same time, rainwater washes salt from such soil, forming voids into which you can easily fall. As a result, today there are about 1,200 sinkholes in Jordan and Israel, sometimes reaching a depth of 25 meters. But the greatest danger comes from sinkholes that form near residential buildings and along roads.

The high percentage of salt in the Dead Sea makes it virtually impossible for living organisms to exist here. However, you can still find several species of tiny bacteria and one very tenacious algae - tunoliella.

The unique mineralogical composition of Dead Sea salt differs from the composition of salt in other bodies of water. The water here contains 50.8% magnesium chloride, 14.4% calcium chloride, 30.4% sodium chloride and 4.4% potassium chloride. This wealth turns the lake into a healing resort, which tourists from all countries strive to visit. But, in addition to the unusual composition of the salt, the Dead Sea is famous for its healing mud, which is extracted from the bottom of the reservoir. Silt-sulfide muds of the sea are highly mineralized and are popular for their high content of iodine, bromine and hormone-like substances.

For tourists on the shores of Dead Lake, large jugs filled with mud are specially displayed with which you can wipe yourself. Then you need to wait for the dirt to dry, and you can wash it off. Such procedures are very useful for people who have joint pain.

The mineral waters of the Dead Sea are a clear, viscous, oily liquid with a temperature of approximately 30 degrees. For tourists, immersion in such water is always an interesting process. Due to the high density of water, the human body does not sink in it, but is in a state similar to weightlessness. But, despite the fact that the hypersaline waters of the lake “hold” well on the surface, swimming or diving in it will be difficult. It’s much easier to sit in it like in a hammock and have fun. In this case, you will feel that you are not in water, but in oil.

It should be noted that when staying in the Dead Sea, certain safety measures must be observed. So, you should avoid cutting yourself on salt crystals, as such wounds will take a very long time to heal. You should also not dive into the water or splash around: salt water can seriously burn your eyes. If this happens, and water gets on the retina of the eyes, then the coastal doctors on duty will always come to the rescue. They have a large supply of bottles of clean water with which they will quickly rinse your eyes.

In addition, it is not recommended to stay in the lake for more than 20 minutes at a time on the Jordanian shore and more than 15 minutes on the Israeli shore, where the waters are considered more mineralized. But there is also a significant plus here. Since the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the planet, the sun's rays, reaching here, already have time to lose all their harmful ultraviolet radiation. As a result, here you can sunbathe as much as you like without causing harm to your body.

The air in the Dead Sea area is so clean of impurities and so pleasantly enriched with oxygen that breathing here is a pleasure. At the same time, the air contains an increased amount of bromine, which is especially useful for restoring a weakened nervous system and for giving the body additional strength.

The Dead Sea receives its nutrition from the waters of the Jordan River and streams flowing in winter from the mountains of Moab in Jordan and from the mountains of Judea in Israel. Underground sources also contribute to the total “water” share of the sea. For example, the Jordan River brings about seven million tons of water into the lake every year, which has no outlet from the sea. However, the heat of the Jordan Valley evaporates them quite quickly.

The Dead Sea actually consists of two basins, which are connected to each other by an artificial canal system. Beneath the bottom of the lake is a thick layer of salt that formed here after the evaporation of the Lashon Sea, which occurred more than a million years ago. The Dead Sea is surrounded on all sides by desert. Scientists believe that it arose about 5 million years ago as a result of strong tectonic processes, which also influenced the creation of the Great Afro-Asian Rift. Until now, the earth's crust in the Dead Sea area is in constant seismic movement.

The shores of the lake are no less interesting than the lake itself. In those places where the water has already evaporated, large areas of salted earth remain, which is cracked by the heat, and immediately behind them dry brown mountains begin to rise. A little further north, these mountains begin to take on a reddish hue, and near the southern part of the Dead Sea you can see pillars of salt.

A popular ancient legend is associated with one of the salt pillars of the lake. It is written in the Bible, and according to it, in ancient times there were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which, for their disgusting sins, incurred the wrath of God. But at that time there lived a virtuous and God-fearing man, Lot, who was warned that these cities would be destroyed. Lot and his relatives had to quickly leave the doomed places. At the same time, God set the condition that none of those fleeing should even look back at the burning cities. But Lot's wife regretted the acquired property and looked back. At that very second, according to the biblical account, it turned into a pillar of salt, which, according to the legend of local residents, is still located near the modern city of Sedom.

Interestingly, scientists have found an explanation for this event. In 1988, the American chemist A. Klotz put forward a hypothesis according to which Lot’s wife could have died from a wave of hot air that arose from the burning cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and which contained carbon dioxide in the highest concentration. This could cause a combination of calcite and carbon dioxide in a woman’s body, and as a result of an instant reaction of calcite crystallization, a person could quickly turn into a monolithic block of calcite, which in Hebrew was called salt.

The biblical account also says that Lot and his daughters subsequently settled near the Dead Sea in a cave located near the modern town of Safi in Jordan. Historians question the authenticity of the existence of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, since they are mentioned only in the Bible, but this has not been confirmed by archaeological finds. However, many scientists and biblical scholars are confident that these cities are now located at the bottom of the Dead Sea.

A similar point of view is shared by Russian researcher Yuri Kudinov. He managed to get a photograph of an ancient map from one of the Israeli universities. It is on this map that Sodom and Gomorrah are located (which also confirms their existence) at the place where the rivers flow into the Dead Sea. Now these rivers are long gone, and the lake under discussion has already “moved” to the location of famous ancient cities.

To test his guesses, Yuri Kudinov decided to examine the bottom of the Dead Sea using a sonar: this device allows, using reflected sound at a certain purity, to take readings from a picture of the bottom. When the sonar records received by Kudinov’s team were read, some of the images confirmed the hypothesis that at the bottom of the lake there were impressively sized man-made objects.

When Yuri Kudinov's group began filming underwater, it immediately became clear that this would not be an easy task. When an autonomous underwater camera, equipped with a motor and its own control system, entered the lens, the counting beam produced a solid white stripe against the background of very dense water. The matter was complicated by the fact that governments banned the use of any watercraft in the Dead Sea, so the team had to manually move the raft with installed equipment. Also, the research radius was significantly small, since the cable length was about 50 meters.

But even with such difficulties, Yuri Kudinov managed to make a 10-minute film with clearly visible images in four days. So, in the recording from the bottom of the sea, an object similar to a column is clearly visible. Other objects are in the shape of large eggs and some circles covered with salt. However, in any case, we can say with confidence that these are objects made by human hands. In addition, the presence of an impressively sized column confirms that there were once buildings on the site of the Dead Sea.

The Bible also reports that the area around the Dead Sea served as a refuge for King David. And under Herod the Great, the world’s first resort was created here, where rich people of that time came for treatment and recreation. In addition, it is known that it was here that the extraction of large quantities of a wide variety of substances was carried out, from fertilizers to balms for the mummies of Ancient Egypt.

Another unusual feature of the Dead Sea is that it produces high-quality natural asphalt in the form of black pebbles and small pebbles. In ancient times, “Jewish asphalt,” which is what the bitumen liquid floating on the surface of the lake was then called, was widely used in industry, everyday life and medicine. This is also reported in the second biblical book of Exodus, written in 1512 BC.

The Qumran manuscripts, also called the Dead Sea Scrolls, were found in the vicinity of the Dead Sea: they created a real sensation in the world of biblical and theological scholars. The first scrolls were discovered by chance in 1947 by a Bedouin boy. Among them was a well-preserved scroll of the book of the prophet Isaiah, part of the canonical Bible. Also in the caves of Qumran, located on the shores of the Dead Sea, more than 170 scrolls were discovered containing passages from almost all the books of the Old Testament. Scientists dated the found documents to the period between 250 BC and the 1st century AD. These passages proved that the modern text of the Bible is almost completely consistent with the tests that were written in them thousands of years ago: the changes affected mainly only the spelling of some words.

Thus, Israel and Jordan perceive the Dead Sea as a unique natural treasure. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world seek to visit this area. Here is the country's main medical research center, famous for its unique treatment methods. High temperatures that last almost all year round, low humidity, the absence of pollen and other popular allergens in the air, healing mud, harmless ultraviolet solar radiation, sea water rich in minerals and organic components, as well as thermo-mineral hot springs - all this makes the Dead Sea unique and has a permanent positive effect on people's health.

The Dead Sea is one of the four seas that wash the shores of Israel. Thousands of tourists come here year after year to be cured of many diseases. The coastal air is saturated with bromine, which calms the nervous system. The concentration of salt in the Dead Sea is incredibly high - it is impossible to drown here. The healing mud of the Dead Sea is widely used in cosmetology.

Holidays at the Dead Sea resorts are especially popular with older people, many of whom report an incredible surge of energy after swimming and relaxing on the salty beaches.

Climate and weather at the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea region is influenced by a desert climate. This means that the difference between day and night temperatures is significant - the difference can be up to 15 °C. This is a very sunny year-round resort, where a record amount of rain falls during the year. The number of sunny days per year exceeds 330.

From November to April, the average air temperature in the Dead Sea resorts is 22-29 °C. In summer, the air warms up from 32 to 37 °C, and in July the thermometer reaches 40 °C. The water temperature in the Dead Sea does not fall below 25 °C, and in August it warms up to 34 °C.

Tours to the Dead Sea

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow are given.

Dead Sea beaches

The beaches of the Dead Sea can be divided into private and public. The first ones belong to hotels and are well equipped - there are sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, toilets, and convenient descents into the water. Since the Dead Sea becomes shallow every year and the distance to it from the hotel increases, special transport takes guests to the water. Excellent beaches are located in the resort of Ein Bokek.

Free beaches are less well equipped, but they always have a shower to wash off the salt. Also sometimes there are sun umbrellas and toilets. On all beaches you need special shoes for swimming to avoid cutting yourself on the rocks. Swimming time in the Dead Sea should not exceed 20 minutes.

The Dead Sea region is located in an amazing zone - solar radiation is practically safe here. You can sunbathe for 8 hours straight and not get sunburned. Wraps with healing mud and black clay often take place right on the shores of the Dead Sea. Zohar hot springs are rich in sulfur, their water helps with diseases of the joints and muscles.

Treatment at the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a completely unique place that has no analogues in the world. Millions of years ago, in its place was the Lashon Sea, which dried up and left behind a layer of salt up to 2 kilometers thick. It lies directly under the Dead Sea, providing it with incredible salinity: 270 ppm! Sea waters contain magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium chloride, as well as bromides. The air itself at Dead Sea resorts is saturated with bromine - it has a relaxing and calming effect on the human nervous system. In addition, the oxygen content in the air above the Dead Sea is much higher than anywhere else on the planet - in fact, it is a natural pressure chamber.

In health resorts located on the seashore, skin diseases are successfully treated, especially psoriasis (more than 93% of those cured!), as well as diseases of the musculoskeletal system and respiratory organs. The climate and procedures have a beneficial effect on those who suffer from high blood pressure.

Wraps with healing peloid mud and black clay rejuvenate the skin, smooth out wrinkles, and tone it. Mud and clay relieve rheumatic pain and cleanse the skin. Sulfur baths with water from Zohar springs strengthen the circulatory system.

Dead Sea Resorts

The main resorts of the Dead Sea are Ein Bokek and Neve Zohar. This is where most of the luxury hotels and health resorts, boarding houses and balneological centers are located. The infrastructure is better developed in Ein Bokek, where there are many entertainment venues, restaurants, and shops. In Neve Zohar, life is in full swing inside the hotels, which are ready to offer their guests almost everything their heart desires.

Ein Bokek is the most famous resort of the Dead Sea. This is a single health resort with many luxury hotels and beautiful beaches. There are large balneological centers where you can take a health course based on the waters and mud of the Dead Sea. Bokek stream contains selenium, which helps improve the body's immunity.

Ein Gedi is an oasis in the Judean Desert. Mineral water is produced here from a legendary spring. In addition, in Kibbutz Ein Gedi there is the famous Ahava factory, which makes cosmetics based on minerals and salts from the Dead Sea. There is a store on the factory premises. In Ein Gedi there is a medical complex where you can take a hydrogen sulfide bath and sunbathe on the public beach. The entrance to the water is rocky and difficult; special shoes are required.

Dead Sea Attractions

The most famous local attraction is the ancient fortress of Massada. It was built during the time of King Herod the Great. The fortress resisted the Roman army: its defenders preferred death to defeat. You can learn more about the history of the fortress at the light and sound show that takes place here in the summer season. It starts at sunset and lasts about an hour. Simultaneous translation into Russian is available. You can climb the mountain where the fortress stands on foot or by cable car.

Another popular place among tourists is the mountain range, which was called “Lot’s Wife”. According to the biblical story, the wife of the righteous Lot turned into a pillar of salt after she looked back at her hometown of Sodom being destroyed by angels. At certain angles, the pillar looks like a frozen female figure.

In Qumran National Park, which is located on the coast of the Dead Sea, you can see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. The scrolls themselves are kept in the Temple of the Book of the Israel Museum. Ein Gedi is one of the Dead Sea oases that is definitely worth a visit. This is where the magnificent Shulamit Falls, ice lakes and rock baths are located, as well as a luxurious botanical garden with more than 900 species of bushes, trees and flowers.

Beach

In fact, the Dead Sea is not a sea at all, but a large inland lake that is fed by the waters of the Jordan River, which flows into its northern part. The length of the Dead Sea is 67 km, width 18 km (at the widest point); the border between Israel and Jordan divides it almost exactly in half.

During its existence, the Dead Sea has gone by many names. The Jews gave it the names of the Steppe, Salt and Eastern Seas. The Greeks called it Asphalt Lake because they said that pieces of black bitumen were found in it. The Nabateans sold natural asphalt for a lot of money, mainly to the Egyptians, who used it to mummify the dead. The Crusaders called it the Dead Sea, and medieval Muslims called it variously: the Foul Lake, the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Inverted Lake.

Dead Sea Salt

Holidays at the Dead Sea

On the coast of the Dead Sea, a complex for vacationers has been created, consisting of hotels, inns, health resorts, clinics and spas. Those who have visited the Dead Sea resort at least once leave only the best reviews. It's no secret that the level of medicine in Israel is at a very high level, so the quality of medical procedures will appeal to every guest of the country. After a holiday at the Dead Sea, the human body is cleansed, blood circulation and metabolism are stimulated, and the overall condition of the skin improves. Mud, climatic conditions, clean air, beneficial minerals - these are the components of the sea that make it a miraculous source of healing from many diseases. Despite the fact that the Dead Sea is not a beach resort, there are a lot of vacationers here.

Fun floating on the surface of the Dead Sea is a must-do activity when visiting this region. The most popular (and therefore crowded)- Ein Gedi beach, which attracts crowds of noisy young people with loud music and bonfires, which occupy campsites and toilets (entrance to the beach is free). Ein Bokek also has a gorgeous but crowded beach at the Hordus Hotel, which is easily accessible, and a nice sandy beach. If you come not during the high season or on weekends, it is much freer here (and also free). At the northern end of the sea there are more beaches, including the Biankini and Siesta hotels, and opposite Qumran there is a very beautiful beach at the Mineral hotel.

Swimming itself - or more precisely, lying on the surface of the water - in the Dead Sea leaves an unforgettable impression, but it is more difficult to do than it seems at first glance. Swimming in water with such high density is almost impossible, but we will give you some tips. To move forward, you will have to make funny movements, twisting and pushing, spinning around its axis, like some kind of water strider beetle moving on the surface of the water. Since the salt content in the water here is about 10 times higher than in the Mediterranean Sea, when it gets on the body, the water makes it slippery and oily. Fish brought here by the current along the Jordan River die in the very first minutes of entering the Dead Sea - they are found washed up on the shore, dried out and hardened like stone. Be sure to ensure that extremely salty water does not get into your eyes - this can be painful and dangerous. If this happens, immediately rinse your eyes with fresh water. When salt gets on the skin, any small scratch is immediately felt, and therefore it is better not to enter the water with serious cuts or wounds.

However, these warnings should not scare you. It is an indescribable feeling to float like a cork on the surface of healing waters, surrounded by the harsh beauty of the Judean Desert, steeped in ancient and biblical history, at the lowest point on earth's land.

In Israel, every traveler can find accommodation based on their financial capabilities and preferences. For lovers of luxury, exquisite apartments with the highest level of service, as well as beautiful sea views, a jacuzzi, a sunbathing area, a spa, a tennis court, a gym, fountains and swimming pools on the territory of the complex are suitable. For those whose budget is limited, there are more modest but cozy hotels with a standard list of services. It is difficult to name the average cost of a hotel room, since the choice depends on many factors.

Israel offers tourists hotels for every taste and budget

Remarkably, the air above the Dead Sea contains more oxygen than anywhere else. This helps create the effect of being in a natural pressure chamber.

It is worth noting the usefulness of the thermal springs located along the perimeter of the shores of the Dead Sea. Bathing in such a source will help activate the circulatory system and will help ensure that oxygen begins to saturate all the organs and tissues of your body.

Many people come to the Dead Sea to treat a variety of skin diseases, nervous system diseases, diseases related to the endocrine system, and many other diseases.

One of the most unusual features of the Dead Sea is that its water feels oily to the touch. The fact is that its water is not just salty: it is a rich mixture of minerals, in which it is impossible to drown and which has healing properties. For many centuries, since the time of King Herod, who built a palace on the shores of the Dead Sea, people have come to this region, attracted by the healing properties of the unusual body of water. In recent years, numerous sanatoriums, clinics and luxury hotels have appeared in the small resort of Ein Bokek, turning the place into a thriving tourist center. However, not only Dead Sea water is useful for the treatment of many diseases, such as skin and respiratory diseases. The absence of pollen, the warm and dry climate, low levels of radiation, high barometric pressure, and the mineral-rich mud found along the coast all contribute to modern and remarkably successful treatments.

The consequence of this fashion was the massive export of Dead Sea products for use in the cosmetics industry. Creams and lotions using the healing properties of Dead Sea minerals from companies such as Ahava are available in shopping centers and pharmacies in hundreds of countries around the world.

However, extracting healing minerals comes at a price, and that price is evident at the southern tip of the Dead Sea, where the Dead Sea Salt Works evaporation pools were built. But the beauty industry is not to blame, as the company mines a variety of minerals, including potash, bromine, caustic soda and magnesium, for other industries.

Death of the Dead Sea

Now the sea level drops by 1 m every year. Since the 1950s, it has fallen by 250 m - an alarming figure. There are several reasons for this, the main one being the depletion of freshwater resources in the rivers flowing into the Dead Sea. The Jordan River is now only a small stream when it flows into the sea, as it is blocked by dams built as part of various irrigation projects. The sea surface area was 1000 km² in the 1950s, but has now shrunk to 700 km². Another important factor is the mining of potash and minerals on the shallows of the southern tip of the sea, during which both Jordan and Israel evaporate the water for their needs.

If the process continues at this rate, the sea will dry out completely within 50 years. Urgent measures must be taken to prevent this. The authorities of Jordan and Israel, interested in solving the problem, agreed in 2002 on the construction of a canal from the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba) to Dead with a length of 250 km. The 400-meter difference in height will make it possible to build a hydroelectric power station here, as well as desalination plants that will supply both countries with precious fresh water. However, the project fell victim to the political situation and was stuck in an uncertain state, just like the peace negotiations.

Preserving a unique natural site is a national task

Trip to the Dead Sea from Jordan

Most tourists coming to Jordan consider it their duty to stop by the Dead Sea and perform a bathing ritual.

On the road from Amman, you will first pass through the town of Naur, where Sultan Abdul Hamid settled a large number of Circassians. Leaving Naur, you will appreciate the “lunar” landscapes that you will pass by - the road will constantly go down to the lowest point on the surface of the earth - 408 m below sea level.

From Amman to the Dead Sea is only 50 km, so a trip there is an easy half-day excursion. The one-way trip itself will take an hour and a half. There are signs all along the road, south from Amman to the airport and on to Nowra.

On the eve of your long-awaited vacation, do you look through tourist brochures again and again? Are you tormented by questions related to choosing a future vacation destination? You don't know which resort to choose? Why not choose a holiday at the Dead Sea? You definitely won't be disappointed. In addition, this is a great opportunity not only to get acquainted with the sights of the region, but also to improve your own health.

Features of the Dead Sea

Aristotle was the first to mention this unique reservoir. Even in ancient times, this place was considered one of the most popular resorts. The thermal springs located nearby were visited by King Herod himself. The famous Cleopatra used mud and minerals for rejuvenation; the Roman nobility brought water and salts to their homeland. And in 1967, the first treatment centers appeared here, which still exist successfully.

What is the Dead Sea made of?

The water in this lake, which has no source, cannot be called water in the literal sense of the word. It is rather a strong salt solution, the concentration of which reaches 42%. To prepare such a liquid at home, you need to pour about 3 bags of salt into the bath and stir it well. But even then it will be impossible to replicate the unique composition of the Dead Sea. It contains:

This composition, combined with a healing climate and healing mud, makes this place a desirable resort for tourists all over the world.

Benefits of paradise

What are the advantages of a holiday at the Dead Sea?

In search of life at the Dead Sea

What diseases can be cured at the resorts of this unique body of water? You can come here to be healed of the most common ailments.

Choosing a time to travel

When does the Dead Sea season start? Rejoice: in this blessed corner it lasts all year round. However, do not forget that in the summer months it is too hot here. Therefore, it is better to go to overseas countries in spring or autumn.

There are seasons for the treatment of certain diseases. For example:

• For skin diseases, the season lasts from March to November. However, it is better to refrain from treating eczema and neurodermatitis in July and August.
• Those suffering from diseases of the joints and spine can come to the Dead Sea throughout the year.
• It is better to treat inflammation of the respiratory tract from early April to mid-November.

Israel: holidays at the Dead Sea

This country is often called the promised land.

Russians love to spend their holidays in these parts. Favorable climate, no language barrier, inexpensive travel packages and, of course, the Dead Sea.

The following beaches are the most popular among tourists:

1. Neve Midbar. It is located very close to Jerusalem, on the northern coast. The design of the resort in an unusual reed style is noteworthy. There is a lot of healing mud right under your feet.
2. Ein Gedi. The beach provides an opportunity not only to lie on the shore and swim in salt water. Nearby there is a unique nature reserve where you can admire a beautiful waterfall, observe the local fauna, and admire the unusual flora.
3. Mineral. This beach is distinguished by its pool with mineral water saturated with sulfur, as well as a surprisingly smooth and clean coating of medicinal salt and small pebbles. Great for holidays with children.

Jordan: holiday features

Don't want to go to Israel? There is another country that hospitably welcomes tourists. Her name is Jordan. Holidays on the Dead Sea in this region promise to be eventful and comfortable.

Most often, travelers choose resorts such as:

1. Amman. This capital city is located closest to the Dead Sea coast. Here you can see the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, visit the archaeological or folklore museum.
2. Petra. Due to the unique shade of the rocks, it is called the pink city. It is carved into the mountain, so it has its own special atmosphere. The city is 280 km away from the Dead Sea.
3. Aqaba. One of the most popular resorts, but it is located on the Red Sea. In order to get to the Dead Sea, you have to cover 385 km.

You see how many interesting things the Dead Sea can give you: relaxation and treatment, exciting travel and pleasant memories. This means there is no need to postpone your trip. You need to quickly go to meet the sun, sea and amazingly clean air, which, despite its concentration, is not contraindicated even for allergy sufferers.