One of the most unique creations of nature is located on the border of Israel and Jordan. Perhaps, in the whole world, one cannot find a reservoir that is equally significant for the history of mankind.
Over the centuries, the Dead Sea has played a huge historical, cultural and religious role, so today it is not only popular destination for lovers beach holiday and wellness procedures.
It occupies an extremely important place on the maps of the ancient Egyptians, Arabs and Jews. In addition, numerous traditions of these peoples are associated with it. We bring to your attention the most interesting information about the Dead Sea, which you may have never heard of.
A drainless salt lake
Mark Twain described his impression of the Dead Sea in his book "Simpletons Abroad or the Way of the New Pilgrims": “An oppressive silence hung over him. And involuntarily you start thinking about funeral and death. "
The Dead Sea got its gloomy name for its lifeless landscape and the almost complete absence of underwater organic life. The water here surpasses ocean water in salinity by about nine and a half times. Neither algae, nor fish, nor other large marine life are able to survive with such a colossal concentration of salt. Only at the bottom of the sea were some species of bacteria and fungi found that have adapted to the extreme environment.
In fact, the Dead Sea is a drainless saline lake, that is, it is not connected in any way waterways with other seas and oceans and therefore has no natural flow. As a result of the intense evaporation of fresh water from the Jordan River and several streams, a huge amount of sodium chloride has accumulated over the centuries at the bottom of the sea.
The lowest land mass on the planet
The water level in the Dead Sea is about four hundred and twenty meters below sea level. Thus, the local coast is the lowest land area on the planet. Israel's longest highway, No. 90, which crosses the entire country from the northern border with Lebanon to the southern border with Egypt, is considered the lowest road in the world, as its section runs along the western coast of the Dead Sea. Highway 90 also has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous roads in the world due to the large number of road accidents registered here.
Unique climate
Thanks to the exceptional geographic location in the middle of desert and mountains, the Dead Sea has a unique microclimate. So, about three hundred and thirty days a year there is clear sunny weather. The climate is characterized by low humidity and low rainfall. During the year the temperature ranges from 15 to 38 degrees Celsius. But most importantly, this is the only place in the world where, even with prolonged exposure to the sun, you can not be afraid of sunburn thanks to the natural protection from ultraviolet rays.
It's hard to swim in the Dead Sea, but you can drown
Due to the high salt content, anyone will keep afloat without much effort, so the Dead Sea will surely appeal to those who never bother to learn to swim. But good swimmers should not forget that they are unlikely to be able to arrange a freestyle swim in a salt solution, since a person gets the impression that he is constantly wearing a life jacket.
The Dead Sea is the second largest body of water in Israel in terms of the number of deaths. It may sound strange, but the risk of drowning in a salty sea is not fiction at all. It turns out that it is incredibly difficult for a person to move around by swimming, so he can unintentionally take an uncomfortable, ridiculous and even dangerous position. Also, do not swallow large quantities of salt water, as this can cause poisoning and lead to kidney disease.
The healing properties of the Dead Sea
Since time immemorial, people have known about the miraculous healing properties of the Dead Sea. Aristotle, Cleopatra and other great celebrities visited these lands for health and rejuvenation treatments. At the top of one of the rocks above south coast The Dead Sea is the ancient fortress of Masada. King Herod the Great of Judea built it for himself and his family in 25 BC. King Herod loved to visit the Dead Sea region for hot springs. He used the fortress not only as a refuge in the event of danger threatening him, but also as a resting place for body and soul.
The air of the Dead Sea is unique, it is maximally saturated with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on mood and general well-being. At the same time, the concentration of bromine, known for its pleasant relaxing effect and calming effect on the nervous system, exceeds the usual concentration by several times. Today, numerous spas, hotels and clinics have been built along the entire coast of the Dead Sea, where vacationers can experience the healing effects of therapeutic mud, salt and the local climate. Scientists, doctors and beauticians are exploring various options for treating skin conditions. In addition, Dead Sea salt is a popular ingredient in many lotions and creams.
Bible predictions
Modern scholars have tried to search in the Dead Sea region for the remains of the famous biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The exact location of the cities is now unknown, but experts have little doubt that these cities were flooded by the Dead Sea.
According to the Bible, the cities were destroyed by God for the many sins of their inhabitants. Only the family of the righteous Lot escaped punishment. The Old Testament describes how, during the departure of Lot and his family from Sodom, sulfur poured onto the earth from heaven. Lot and his family members were forbidden to look back, but Lot's wife disobeyed, for which she was turned into a pillar of salt.
The Bible says that the water of the Dead Sea will one day become fresh. Perhaps this prophecy has already begun to come true, since, according to the latest research, fresh water springs were clogged at the bottom of the Dead Sea.
Bituminous lake
One of the ingredients that the ancient Egyptians used to embalm mummies during their burial ritual was asphalt. The Egyptians mined it in the Dead Sea. The ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo wrote that there is a lot of natural asphalt in the Dead Sea. In those days, the sea was called a bituminous lake because asphalt was considered more important than salt.
Today, the Dead Sea continues to extract potassium carbonate, known to people since ancient times as potash fertilizer. This is a very profitable modern business.
Historical find
In 1947, a shepherd boy accidentally discovered in a cave in the vicinity of the Dead Sea one of the most significant archaeological finds XX century, the so-called Qumran manuscripts or the Dead Sea Scrolls. Well-preserved biblical and non-biblical manuscripts have allowed scholars to adjust the historical view of religious events, taking into account new data.
The water level in the Dead Sea drops dramatically
The maximum depth of the Dead Sea is slightly more than three hundred meters, but over the past hundred years, the water level has dropped by twenty-five meters. Environmental studies show that the sea could dry up completely in fifty years if the appropriate measures are not taken. To stop the drying process, Israel and Jordan have teamed up to implement a joint project to transfer the waters of the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
The sea is located just 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. As soon as the city ends, the road immediately begins to go down sharply. Ears are covered often and noticeably. And not surprising, because phenomenal natural miracle located at more than 400 meters below sea level. It is argued that this is the place of the fracture of two continents - Eurasia and Africa, which are moving away from each other. The Dead Sea gradually descends into the formed rift. His possible fate is complete disappearance.
The road to the sea runs through a real desert. We, as it was said, were very lucky that there was no dry wind. According to eyewitnesses, it is completely impossible to breathe (especially for asmatics) from the columns of salt dust. To be honest, looking out of the bus window at a rather bleak landscape, where only occasionally the wreckage of Bedouins came across, the first thing that comes to mind is the question of what people are fighting for. There is nothing! Jews joke that Moses took them for 40 years in the desert with the sole purpose of finding a place where there is no oil.
The sea is not striking in size. The opposite bank, which already belongs to Jordan, is clearly visible. All the infrastructure for recreation at the Dead Sea is located there, on the Israeli side there are only more or less refined beaches. But Jordan has one drawback. The mud is gradually hardening, where it has actually turned to stone. In Israel, however, numerous "dirty little hands" do not allow her to freeze. The water surface, however, is very deceiving because of this. There are quite impressive (and in some places deep) funnels everywhere under water. These are the sites of recent "mining" of the product. Thunder can be very serious. And I don't really want to dip my face. Getting on the mucous membranes, salt "makes you laugh". It is necessary to immediately wash it off with clean water, since there are enough showers on the shore.
The safest way to move on water is to lie on your stomach and touch the bottom with your hands. If your hands do not reach the bottom, then paddle slightly. One thing but ... If the bottom is far away, then you will hardly be able to stand on your feet. At least I didn't succeed. Short attempts ended in loss of coordination and salt getting into all unwanted places. We had to paddle ashore much faster, and we had to gallop along the bank to the shower with a decent gait.
The mud is amazing and funny. According to the initiates, a certain archeobacteria, which has survived to this day since time immemorial, makes it curative. It is the only living organism found here. It spreads well, the skin does not pull when it dries. It rinses off just as well and instantly. At the same time, water is retained on the skin and resembles glycerin. The feeling from such a SPA is awesome. It's funny to watch how a crowd of people first with concentration picks a real kaku out of the water. Then he smears it with concentration and walks proudly in it. And the flush also strokes itself for a long time and with pleasure in all imaginable and inconceivable places. And the pleasure is beyond words!
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| Swimming takes place under the watchful eye of the guards. |
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| "Production" is coming. Everything you pick is yours! One such piece, by the way, now lives in my bathroom. |
You can drown in any body of water, if you're not lucky. Even experienced swimmers sometimes die, unable to cope with the strong current. As you know, Russia is washed by the waters of 15 seas, if you count together with the Caspian, which some researchers define as a huge lake. Not all bodies of water can be bathed in due to the climatic features of our country. However, every year, many unwary tourists die during summer vacation... So which of the Russian seas is the easiest to drown in?
Dangerous currents
The greatest threat to swimmers is the reverse currents that occur from time to time near the shore. This phenomenon is called rip current in English. Such streams are dangerous for people who can swim well, not to mention the bulk of tourists. Most Russians do not know what to do after being caught in a current that carries away from the coast.
Rip current occurs especially often in shallow waters with gently sloping shores, which are bordered by sand spits and islets. Therefore, the warm and gentle Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is sometimes fraught with a real threat.
It's just that during low tide the water does not leave the coast gradually, in some places this natural process is delayed by shallows and sand spits. When the tide begins, the water pressure increases, and a reverse flow forms at the very shore - a kind of fast river within the sea. Such a current moves at a speed of up to 3 meters per second. The swimmer who gets into it cannot fight the powerful stream, quickly loses strength and falls into a panic, which can end in death.
In no case should you go into the sea even up to your waist if you see a section of water of a different color, where it boils, foams and clearly moves from the shore. This can keep you out of trouble. But if you find yourself in the opposite direction, you should not panic. The fact is that the width of such dangerous sections of the water area usually does not exceed 50 meters. Just do not row to the shore, exhausting yourself in the hope of salvation. Don't fight the tide. Try to swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current zone, where you will be able to escape.
Threat level
Reverse currents occur on all seas where there are gentle sandy beaches with strong ebb and flow. In Russia, the most dangerous is, as we mentioned above, the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. The local waters are highly dependent on winds that blow either from the northeast or from the southwest, often changing their direction to the opposite. The currents follow the winds.
The Caspian is also distinguished by strong ebb and flow. In the area of \u200b\u200bDagestan beaches, everyone holiday season so many tourists are dying that rumors have even spread among the people about divers-criminals who allegedly deliberately drown people in order to then sell their bodies for organs. However, these rumors are regularly denied by employees of the local administration of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, who know that the reverse is the fault of everyone.
In the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan that washes Far East Russia, too, quite strong tides - the influence of the Pacific Ocean. Sharp fluctuations in water level can cause powerful currents, so vacationers on popular resorts Primorye should also be careful.
Do not discount the Black Sea, whose surface waters are constantly in motion under the influence of winds. In addition, there are as many gentle sandy beaches with shoals and islets here, as in the neighboring Azov.
Perhaps the most calm of all the seas washing Russia is the Baltic. Here it is best to learn to swim for those tourists who have not yet mastered this useful skill. The sea swell in the Baltic is insignificant, and the slow ebb and flow, lasting from 12 hours to a day, change the coastline by no more than 20 centimeters. True, the obvious disadvantage of this sea is the low temperature of the water: even in summer it does not warm up above + 20 ° C.
"Light" water
Despite the dangerous currents, sea water, as a rule, literally "pushes" the human body to the surface. And the more salts are dissolved in it, the safer bathing. For example, in the Dead Sea, located in Israel, it is impossible to drown for this very reason. However, not all russian seas salty enough to be relatively safe to swim in. In some of them the water is so "light" that it can even be considered almost as fresh as in rivers and lakes.
Unfortunately, in terms of this indicator, the Baltic is seriously inferior to other seas. Its water, according to experts, can even be drunk with almost no harm to health. Salinity on the surface is only 2-3%. There is always a danger of drowning in such "light" water.
The Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov is also far from salty. It is 3 times fresher than the Atlantic Ocean, for example. The composition of the local water is poor in chlorine and sodium, but there are many calcium ions, various sulfates and carbonates. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, doctors do not prohibit drinking a little Azov water once.
The Black Sea is a little saltier than the Azov Sea, but still not enough for swimming in it to be relatively safe.
The salinity of the Caspian waters depends on the specific region: the further north, the lighter the water. In the south of this sea, each liter can contain from 60 to 100 grams of different salts. However, the Russian coast is located in the northern part of the Caspian, where swimming is as dangerous as in the Black Sea. The average salinity of the huge lake is 10-11%.
The safest from this point of view is the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan. Its mineralization is comparable to the average level of the World Ocean. The salinity varies from 33.7% to 34.3% - not much less than in the Pacific Ocean. So for residents and guests of Primorye, bathing does not pose a big threat, the water there is "heavy" enough to push the human body to the surface.
Bottom relief
Despite the possibility of dangerous currents and the "lightness" of the water, the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov has its advantages. Its underwater relief is quite safe. Flat beaches, consisting of sand or small shell rock, turn into gentle plains under water. The sea depth of 5 meters is reached only at a distance of 2 km from the coastline.
Baltic sandy beaches are also safe for this indicator. The bottom here is mostly flat. Its relief becomes rocky and dangerous only in the north of the reservoir, where there are no resort areas.
The Black Sea has been well explored for generations russian tourists... Its bottom is also relatively safe. The northern part of the coast, washing Russia, has a wide shelf strip, where the water depth is rather shallow. But the southern and eastern beaches of the Black Sea, located in Turkey and Georgia, have a steeper slope, and the bottom relief there can be cut by underwater canyons. However, off the coast of Crimea and Krasnodar Territory the depth of the sea increases quite sharply when compared with the Azov sea. So, already 2 km from the coast, the mark of 500 meters can be overcome.
The relief of the underwater part Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan characterized by heterogeneity. Here four lithospheric plates "meet" at once: North American, Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine. Therefore, at the bottom there are several large hollows and ridges. You should swim carefully. Already near the coast, in some places, steep slopes can begin.
As you can see, it is difficult to name one particular sea as the most suitable for swimming. Its pitfalls (literally) and dangers are everywhere. During the rest, tourists should take into account the peculiarities of each of the seas.
7 not allowed in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the largest spa hospital in the world. After a few days, the skin becomes velvety, the body is relaxed, and the mood is elevated (there is really a lot of soothing bromide in the air, from which even hypochondriacs begin to smile). How can you resist the temptation to go for beauty and health!
But so that the mood from staying at the Dead Sea does not suddenly deteriorate, you should know the rules of behavior on the local beaches, and especially in the water.
So, 7 tips for those who are going to the Dead Sea.
1. Do not dive
The water contains 10 times more salt than the normal sea. One can only guess how painful it will be if water gets into the eyes. If it does happen, you urgently need to run to a nearby shower, which on official beaches is usually located right next to the water.
2. Do not swallow
According to the rules, if a person swallowed water from Dead sea, he must immediately contact rescuers. This is perhaps the only such place in the world where rescuers help not drowning people, but simply sipped water.
3. Don't shave
For men, this, of course, is not applicable, since they are unlikely to dip their heads in water. But women who decide to shave their legs or, even worse, the bikini area, can pay for it with unbearable pain - any abrasion will be burned out with salt mercilessly.
4. Do not go into the water barefoot
This applies to those beaches where the coast is not sandy or muddy. Salt deposits and stones can cause those very cuts and abrasions. It is better to take closed shoes; if necessary, you can buy it right here on the beach.
5. Don't go in quickly
The resistance of the water here is great, so due to inexperience due to a frenzied entry, you can lose your balance and easily bryak into the water with your head, and even spray, so that others will suffer. There is no need to go far - just lean your elbows on the water and it will pick you up.
6. Don't take silver
It will turn black quickly in salt water. By the way, it can fade even due to the high salt content in the air.
7. Don't wear a new swimsuit
The paints will wash off very quickly. After dipping, it is better to rinse the bathing suit thoroughly, otherwise it will be very difficult to remove salt stains later.
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I would like to warn about the real dangers that can thoroughly ruin your vacation on one of the strangest and most mysterious seas on Earth.
First, I'll tell you about the sea itself, the coast of which is 416 meters below sea level. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, and not so long ago it itself was connected to the Indian Ocean. The sea grows shallow before our eyes and it is already seriously talking about the possible death of this wonder of the world. But while the sea is alive, people are happy to indulge in rest on its shores. However, dangers lie in wait for uninformed or self-confident tourists.
So, geographically, the Dead Sea belongs to the basin Indian Ocean - the homeland of many secrets, fairy tales and unsolved myths.
There are no fish in it, there is no natural vegetation around it. Even the ultraviolet radiation of the tropical sun loses its scorching power, allowing the most careless vacationers to sunbathe with impunity for 2-3 hours. But still, I do not advise you to take this information on faith and not tempt fate.
Protective cream, light clothing, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses are great.
For those who are going to go to the Dead Sea, even for one day, the body will have more than enough stress: rather tiresome bathing in oily, incredibly salty water, hydrogen sulfide hot baths, radon shower, powerful mud procedures, a freshwater pool ...
If the time for swimming in the Dead Sea is limited by natural fatigue, then it is advisable to control the time of hydrogen sulfide and mud baths by the clock, which is hung everywhere. The usual recommendations for healthy people with a healthy heart are no more than 10-15 minutes for each procedure.
Elderly people, of course, cannot do without a doctor's advice. Experience shows that moderate treatments are so invigorating that you will remain in great shape for a long time. Enumeration of procedures in order to "accumulate life-giving force" guarantees you subsequent discomfort - heaviness, headache and other "delights" of excess.
I advise those people who have skin problems to stay at the Dead Sea for more than one day. A day trip will be enough for young and energetic people - on the second day you will be simply bored. There are many other must-see places in Israel as well!
And now for tips on precautions!
Nothing is so cheap, and nothing is more valuable than good advice... I would like to warn about the real dangers that can thoroughly ruin the rest of both the vacationer himself and the surrounding public. The safety precautions are simple and can be outlined in several points.
1. The sea is constantly receding, leaving behind streaks of loose mud covered with a deceptively hard crust. Walk only along the marked paths so as not to fall into the black mess.
2. The water in the Dead Sea is extremely corrosive. Swim so that splashes do not get into your eyes or those around you. The consequences of this are very painful and traumatic.
3. If a trouble happened and water got into your eyes (the sensation is very unpleasant), immediately rinse them in fresh water, the taps from which are located near the shore. By the way, this is one of the reasons not to swim far.
4. The statement that one cannot drown in the Dead Sea due to the high density of water is a myth. Otherwise, what would the rescuers do with binoculars on the tower?
5. The time for mud procedures and radon baths should be dosed - 10-15 minutes for each procedure. Instructions in 4 languages, including Russian, are posted everywhere. Watch too.
6. If you are committed extreme tourism, then be very careful when walking from the main highway to the coast. The retreating sea leaves behind voids, covered with an outwardly hard crust. Do not tempt fate, do not walk in a minefield! Only on official beaches can you feel safe. Be sure to take a decent supply of water - both for an abundant drink and for a generous shower after bathing.
7. And the last - for those who came to one day excursion... Having received a number with a locker key, put it on your wrist and do not remove it - neither in the water nor on land. Its loss can darken the serene relaxation and deprive the charm that this grandiose wonder of the world gives everyone.
