The Dead Sea

salt lake · extreme places · middle east

Super Salty Water. The Dead Sea is so incredibly salty that almost nothing can live in it, not fish, not plants, almost nothing! The saltiness keeps you bobbing at the surface like a cork, so you can't sink even if you try.

Landlocked Lake. The Dead Sea has no connection to the ocean and sits in a special valley called the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank.

Jordan River Feeds It. The main river that flows into the Dead Sea is the Jordan River, which brings water from the north down into this fascinating lake.

Lowest Spot on Earth. The Dead Sea sits lower than any other place you can visit on land, it's one of the deepest valleys in the world!

No Escape for Water. Since the Dead Sea has nowhere to drain to the ocean, all the salt and minerals stay trapped inside, making it saltier and saltier over time.