|
|
|
|
|
Dead Sea....
|
|
It's called the Dead Sea because nothing lives in it. It is some of the saltiest water anywhere in the world, almost six times as salty as the ocean! The
Dead Sea is completely landlocked and it gets saltier with increasing depth. The surface, fed by the
River Jordan, is the least saline. Down to
about 130 feet (40 meters), the seawater comprises about 300 grams of
salt per kilogram of seawater.
|
 |
|
Known in the Bible as the "Salt Sea" or the "Sea of the Arabah," this inland body of water is appropriately named because its high mineral content allows nothing to live in its waters. Other
post-biblical names for the
Dead Sea include the "Sea of
Sodom," the "Sea of Lot," the "Sea of Asphalt" and the "Stinking Sea." In the
Crusader period, it was sometimes called the "Devil's Sea." All of these names reflect something of the nature of this lake.
|
| |
|
The Dead Sea, unlike the Sea of Galilee to the north, does not figure prominently in the
biblical narratives. Its most important role was as a barrier, blocking traffic to
Judah from the east. An advancing army of
Amorites and Moabites apparently crossed a shallow part of the Dead Sea on their way to attack King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20). Ezekiel has prophesied that one day the
Dead Sea will be fresh water and fishermen will spread their nets along the shore.
|
|
|
|
Palm trees dead sea shore |
|
| |
|
The unique concentration of the Dead Sea waters has long been known to have medicinal value. Aristotle, Queen of Sheba,
King Solomon and Cleopatra were all familiar with this and modern doctors as well often prescribe patients with skin ailments to soak in the waters of the
Dead Sea. Because of the dropping level of the
Dead Sea, the southern end is no longer under water, except for that which is channeled by aqueducts for the purpose of extracting minerals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
