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Dead Sea, Map, Location, Bordering Countries, Geography

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a salty lake in the Judean desert of southern Israel, near Jordan. It was formed about four million years ago and is the lowest point on the Earth. The region has a dry climate with sunny skies, high temperatures, and little rain. Its extreme conditions create a unique landscape and contribute to its high salt levels, making it one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world.

The shores of the Dead Sea sparkle with crystallized salt in white and turquoise colors as the sun evaporates the water. Originally, the Dead Sea had two basins, but by the late 1970s, the water level dropped significantly, drying out the southern basin. This change made the peninsula of Al-Lisan extend eastward, separating the northern and southern basins with dry land. The southern basin is now filled with large evaporation pools for salt extraction, and water is pumped in from the northern basin to keep it wet. The air smells of sulfur from the mud, which is rich in bromine. The northern beaches are muddy, while the southern beaches have unique salt formations. The water appears almost oily because of its high salt content and density.

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Dead Sea Bordering Countries

The Dead Sea is situated between Israel and Jordan and forms part of the border between the two countries. The Dead Sea is fed mainly by the Jordan River, which enters the lake from the north.

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What are the river that feeds the Dead Sea?

Before 1960, the Jordan River was the main water source for the Dead Sea, along with some small springs around the lake. Now, after diverting water from the Sea of Galilee, the only sources of water are sulfur springs, wastewater, and occasional rain or flash floods.

Dead Sea Geography

The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation on land and is the world’s lowest body of water. The water in the Dead Sea is about ten times saltier than ocean water, making the sand and pebbles at the edge sparkle with crystallized salt. While there are small springs around the lake, the only major water source is the Jordan River. There are no streams that flow out of the Dead Sea. Clinical studies have shown that the high mineral concentration of its water and mud, zinc, and oxygen-rich air can treat a variety of ailments, including psoriasis and other skin conditions, asthma, rheumatism, high blood pressure, and more.

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Dead Sea Formation

The creation of the Dead Sea is the subject of conflicting theories. The Jordan River Valley was frequently inundated by water from the Mediterranean Sea about 3.7 million years ago. Waters formed the Sedom Lagoon, which connected to the Mediterranean Sea through what is now the Jezreel Valley. About 2 million years ago, the land between the lagoon and the sea rose high enough that the sea could no longer flood the area, creating a landlocked lake.

The valley floor rose and fell due to tectonic plate movements, and the lake gradually shrank due to progressive evaporation until all that was left, with its low elevation, was the Dead Sea some 70,000 years ago.

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Dead Sea UPSC

The Dead Sea is a distinct ecosystem that serves as a sensitive indicator of the global environment in a particular region. In the foreseeable future, agriculture upstream is expected to continue to outweigh the environmental needs of the Dead Sea because water is still a valuable resource in this arid area. Using artificial means, such as the Red-Dead Conveyance project, could offer different ways to protect this rare ecosystem.

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Other Indian Geography Topics

Seasons of India Mountains of India
Mangrove Forests in India Important Mountain Passes in India
Monsoon in India
Indus River System
Climate of India
Rivers of India
Tributaries of Ganga
National Parks in India
Important Dams in India
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Tiger Reserves in India
Northern Plains of India
Physiography of India
Important Lakes of India
Wetlands in India
Biodiversity in India
Natural Vegetation in India Earthquakes in India
Types of Soil in India
Ramsar Sites in India
Brahmaputra River System
Hydropower Plants in India
Nuclear Power Plants in India
Major Ports in India
Biosphere Reserves in India
Waterfalls in India

Other Fundamental Geography Topics

Solar System Types of Clouds
Structure of the Atmosphere Himalayan Ranges
Component of Environment
El Nino and La Nina
Coral Reef
Continental Drift Theory
Endogenic and Exogenic Forces
Indian Ocean Region
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean Dipole
Air Pollution
Environmental Impact Assessment
Tropical Cyclone
Western Disturbances
Types of Rocks

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FAQs

Why is the Dead Sea so famous?

Modern research demonstrates why the Dead Sea is regarded as the oldest ancient spa in the world: it is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, with a salinity of 34%, making it over nine times saltier than typical ocean water.

What is strange about the Dead Sea?

With approximately ten times as much salt as regular saltwater, the Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. This is due to the fact that the River Jordan is the Dead Sea's sole main tributary. As a result, it is forced to evaporate because it is impossible to leave the lake.

What country owns the Dead Sea?

On the surface, the Dead Sea, which has been the largest industrial location in the Middle East since the late 1920s, is shared by Israel and Jordan. In 1952, the State of Israel established Dead Sea Works as a state-owned company.

Can humans swim in the Dead Sea?

The water in the Dead Sea is salty, making it denser and heavier than freshwater. If you swim in it, you will easily float.

Why man does not sink in the Dead Sea?

Because the water in the dead sea has an excessive amount of salt in it that makes it is denser and heavier than freshwater so a person does not sink in it.

Why is the Dead Sea toxic?

The Dead Sea is well known for being extremely salty, which makes it impossible for life forms like fish and aquatic plants to survive there.

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