Dead Sea the Lowest Part on Earth

Here, in western Jordan, at the lowest point on earth, 430m below sea level, you will be floating like rubber ducks in the mystery of the Dead Sea, a landlocked body of water 10 times saltier than the ocean.

No life lies beneath the sea water, that is why it was named the Dead Sea. And, as it turns out, not even the sea itself is immune to an eventual death, the cursed combination of rivers being dammed and evaporation threaten to make the Dead Sea disappear for good.

Shrinking at a rate of one meter every year, already to the point where resorts that were once lapped by its waters now face a 2km trek down to the shore. Experts predict by 2050, the Dead Sea could be reduced to a puddle. Forget the list of places you need to visit before you die, this aquatic anomaly could well be dead before you.

 

Dead Sea Nature’s Health Spa

The Dead Sea’s rich, black mud has long been touted as the kale of the beauty world, packing a healthy mineral infusion for the body. Even the air is healthier here; rich in oxygen due the barometric pressure — the world’s highest (800 mg Hg) — which can be beneficial for asthmatics.

The combination of sun, water, mud and air and the high concentration of magnesium, bromide, and potassium combine into a natural treatment for ailments ranging from psoriasis through to arthritis and allergies.

 

Five Star Hotels at the Dead Sea

With 330 days of sunshine, dry air and no crowds, it’s little wonder eight international four and five-star resorts line the salty banks of the Dead Sea on the Jordan side. Each resort has its own private section of water for guests to bob about in, with some offering day access. The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea occupies prime position on the strip; its Gardens of Babylon-inspired design tumbling down the hill into the lake. That famous mud is found in buckets down by the water’s edge to slather all over yourself, leave for 20 minutes, and then rinse off with a float in the mineral-rich waters.

 

The Fabulous Spas at the Resorts

If you want to up the luxury level on your Dead Sea stay, you can visit the spas that has Dead Sea pools among its adults-only relaxation zones. Spas offer Dead Sea salt scrubs, mud massages and wraps. The resorts also have lots of pools to laze around for the rest of the day.

 

 

The Celebrity Visits to Dead Sea

You’ll be in high-profile company — Brangelina, Nicole Kidman, Tony Blair and Bono are just a few of the celebs to stay at the Dead Sea. And that Kardashian of ancient Egypt, the milk-bath-loving Queen Cleopatra was lured to Dead Sea shores, too.

 

It was the Real Garden of Eden

If you opt for the Book of Genesis over Lonely Planet, you will know the religious significance of this region. Christ was baptised in the River Jordan, and in the Old Testament, God refers to the Jordan River Valley surrounding the Dead Sea as the “Garden of the Lord” aka the Garden of Eden.