The Dead Sea: Why You Can't Sink, and Amazing Facts About the Lowest Place on Earth
Why do people float in the Dead Sea? What makes it so salty, and why is it shrinking? Amazing facts about the lowest point on land, plus tips for a safe swim.
Lie back on the water and you float as if on an air mattress; you can even read a newspaper in the middle of the sea! This one-of-a-kind experience only happens in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land anywhere on Earth. So what makes this place so special?
Where is the Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Jordan to the east and by the West Bank and Israel to the west. In Arabic it is also called Bahr Lut (the Sea of Lot). Despite its name, it is scientifically a landlocked salt lake, not a sea.
- Its shore lies more than 430 metres below sea level, and it gets lower every year.
- Its northern basin is about 50 kilometres long and reaches a depth of about 300 metres.
- It is less than an hour’s drive from Amman, the capital of Jordan.
Why is it so salty?
The Dead Sea is fed mainly by the Jordan River plus some valleys and springs, but it has no outlet. Water that flows in only leaves by evaporation, and evaporation here is intense because of the heat and dry air. Every drop that evaporates leaves its salt behind.
The result: the Dead Sea is about 34% salt, compared with about 3.5% for the oceans. That makes it roughly ten times saltier than ocean water.
Why can’t you sink?
The secret is density. All that dissolved salt makes Dead Sea water about 1.24 grams per cubic centimetre, clearly denser than the human body, which is close to the density of fresh water.
According to Archimedes’ principle, water pushes a body upward with a force equal to the weight of the water it displaces. Because Dead Sea water is so heavy, only a small part of your body needs to be underwater for you to float, so you end up sitting on the water as if it were a chair.
Did you know? Swimming normally on your stomach is very hard in the Dead Sea, because the water keeps lifting your legs. The right way is to lie on your back and relax.
Why is it called “dead”?
Because its extreme saltiness means no fish or water plants can live in it. But it isn’t completely lifeless: some microorganisms that tolerate very high salt do live there.
Mud and minerals: why people go there for treatment
The Dead Sea’s water and mud are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and bromine, which is why its products are widely used in skincare.
Many people also visit for relief from some skin conditions such as psoriasis, because the extra layer of air above this very low-lying area filters out part of the harmful ultraviolet radiation. Treatment should always be supervised by specialists.
Its shores are also home to major industries extracting potash and bromine.
The Dead Sea is shrinking
The Dead Sea’s level is dropping by more than one metre every year, and it has lost a large part of its surface area since the 1960s. The main reasons are:
- Diverting water from the Jordan River and its tributaries for drinking and farming, so very little now reaches it.
- Evaporation ponds used by the mineral industries.
One result is thousands of sinkholes near the shores. Several rescue plans have been proposed, including bringing water from the Red Sea, but no comprehensive solution has been carried out so far.
Tips for a safe swim in the Dead Sea
- Don’t put your head under and don’t jump in.
- Protect your eyes: if water gets in them, rinse immediately with fresh water.
- Don’t shave or wax the day before, as salt stings tiny cuts.
- Don’t stay in too long: 15 to 20 minutes at a time is plenty.
- Drink lots of water, since the air is hot and dry.
- Wear water shoes, as salt crystals on the bottom can be sharp.
- Shower with fresh water after you get out.
Nearby places worth visiting in Jordan
- Al-Maghtas (the Baptism Site): a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Wadi Mujib: a nature reserve and spectacular canyon for adventure lovers.
- Ma’in Hot Springs: thermal springs and hot waterfalls.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drown in the Dead Sea?
Yes, even though floating is easy. Swallowing or inhaling its extremely salty water is very dangerous, so don’t underestimate it, and always watch children.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn are best. Summer is extremely hot, with temperatures that can exceed 40 °C.
Key takeaway
The Dead Sea is a landlocked, extremely salty lake at the lowest point on land. Its salt makes the water dense enough to float in effortlessly, and its minerals have made it a destination for wellness and tourism. But it shrinks year after year and needs real solutions to survive.