Indice
Dead Sea location
The Dead Sea (which is actually a lake) is located between Jordan and Israel, at the bottom of the Jordan Valley.
Its basin is located about 430 meters below sea level and is the lowest point on earth. Characterized by a salt concentration ten times higher than that of the ocean, the Dead Sea is located in a rocky and inhospitable setting due to the particularly hot and dry climate. This body of water was once a lagoon connected to the Mediterranean which, following the lifting of some tectonic plates, assumed its current shape.
Its coasts, partly sandy and partly rocky, are interspersed with mountains that drop steeply into the sea and lush lands located mainly in the northern area.
STATES: Jordan, Israel, Palestine
ALTITUDE: -423 m s.l.m.
SURFACE: 650 km²
AVERAGE DEPTH: 200 m
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT: 135 km
Why is it called the Dead Sea
Due to its extremely high salinity, the waters of the Dead Sea do not allow the survival of any animal or plant species, except for some types of microorganisms that have adapted to these extreme environmental conditions.
The fact that life is not possible within this body of water has led to it being called the Dead Sea. Due to the excessive percentage of salinity, it is not advisable to dive into its waters to avoid harmful irritation to the eyes, even if the high surface density of the water basin allows you to float with extreme ease.
Hotels and where to sleep
Why you float on the Dead Sea
The extremely high salt concentration of the Dead Sea, responsible for its remarkable density, ensures that the human body floats, and cannot sink for any reason.
Thanks to this density, the water of the Dead Sea pushes upwards any body immersed in it, thus preventing it from sinking.However, this characteristic of the water makes swimming particularly difficult, if not impossible; therefore, those who enter the basin are only allowed to float.
The specific weight of the water is very high, as is its evaporation, and it is precisely on these factors that the bizarre phenomenon of “forced floating” depends.
The beaches of the Dead Sea
The road from Amman to the Dead Sea ends at a T-junction: turning right takes you to the resort area, while the smaller road takes you to the Baptism site.
About 2km south of the hotel area is Amman Beach (don’t be fooled by its name, Amman is an hour away!). Amman Beach is the most accessible and affordable beach, and there is also a public bus terminal with parking nearby.
The beach is made up of two distinct areas: the main beach doesn’t have much in the way of facilities and looks a bit dowdy. The second area has a swimming pool and a towel and locker rental.
You can even wear a bikini here without any problems! O Beach, unlike Amman Beach, is just 2km south of Amman. It is a seaside resort with a sandy beach equipped with modern and comfortable facilities: swimming pools, cushioned loungers, bars, luxury spas and restaurants.
Activities to do at the Dead Sea
If you are spending a relaxing day at the Dead Sea between floating, mud baths and beauty treatments, but at some point you want to explore the area a bit, know that from here you can easily reach the Baptism Site, Madaba and Wadi Mujib.
The Baptism Site
The Baptism Site (Bethany), is located on the east bank of the Jordan River. It is said to be the place where John the Baptist lived and, probably, baptized Jesus Christ. For this reason, the plain surrounding the site has been an important spiritual center since the themes of the Old Testament and represents one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations in the Middle East.
Madaba
Madaba is known as the city of mosaics. Here, in addition to getting lost in the narrow streets of the center full of local craft shops, you can visit the Church of St. George, which contains the mosaic map of the Holy Land. To learn more about Madaba, read our blog article.
Mount Nebo
This is one of the most sacred places for Jews, Christians and Muslims, where Moses first saw the long-awaited Holy Land. According to Jewish and Christian tradition, Moses was buried here, but according to Muslims (who consider him one of the prophets) his body was buried beyond the Jordan River. Read more in our blog post.
Wadi Mujib
Wadi Mujib is a 500-meter deep and 4 km wide canyon that can be explored by following several trekking routes. Read more about Madaba in our blog post.
The Dead Sea is disappearing
Did you know that Jordan is among the 5 driest countries in the world? For this reason, all the main valleys towards the Dead Sea are interrupted by dams, in an attempt to contain the waters of the lake’s tributaries.
The level of the Dead Sea, meanwhile, is rapidly decreasing by about 1 meter per year. The turning point to solve the problem could come from the construction of the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal, renamed “Peace Canal”, which would consist of 180 kilometers of conduit with the function of transporting water from the first sea to the second, responding to the regional water emergency for at least 50 years.
Where to eat at the Dead Sea
Our favorite Dead Sea restaurants are:
- Al Deera – This is the restaurant at the Holiday Inn Resort, which offers great local food as well as a wide variety of international dishes.
- Burj Al Hamam – This restaurant has been perfecting the “art of Lebanese cuisine” for over 40 years. It offers a wide variety of traditional Lebanese and home-style dishes.
- For more details, check out our blog post Where to Eat In Jordan.
